### Ukraine Strikes Key Crimean Bridge Amid Continued Conflict

Ukraine has executed a significant underwater explosion targeting the crucial Kerch Bridge, which connects the Russian-occupied Crimean peninsula to Russia, inflicting damage on its underwater supports. This operation, claimed by Kyiv's SBU security service, is the second high-profile attack by Ukraine in recent days, following a drone raid on Moscow's strategic bomber fleet.

This latest assault on the 12-mile-long Kerch Bridge, a prestigious project of Russian President Vladimir Putin that opened in 2018, seems to be part of Ukraine's ongoing efforts to challenge narratives that downplay its strategic capabilities. The bridge, heavily defended by Russian forces, was mined with an equivalent of over a metric tonne of TNT, according to the SBU. The Ukrainian security service released footage showing the underwater blast and debris flying, which they claim has severely damaged the base of the bridge supports.

This is the third time Ukraine has targeted this critical logistics route since Russia's full-scale invasion in 2022. Previously, the bridge was struck by a truck explosion in October 2022 and again in July 2023 by an experimental naval drone. Both times, Russia managed to repair the damaged sections.

Lt Gen Vasyl Maliuk of the SBU, who supervised the latest operation, labeled the bridge as "an absolutely legitimate target," citing its use as a logistical artery by Russian forces. He said, "Crimea is Ukraine, and any manifestations of occupation will receive our tough response."

Following the attack, Russian authorities temporarily suspended road traffic on the bridge, with Russian state media reporting a four-hour closure. Additionally, Russia accused Ukraine of "acts of terrorism" after two railway bridges in Russia were blown up over the weekend, resulting in a train crash that killed seven people and injured 113, including children.

On the diplomatic front, Ukraine confirmed its invitation to the upcoming Nato summit. This comes after President Volodymyr Zelenskyy warned that it would be a "victory" for Russia if Kyiv were excluded. Meanwhile, ongoing talks between Russian and Ukrainian negotiators have yet to yield a breakthrough, with Russia rejecting Kyiv's call for an unconditional ceasefire. Instead, Russia has offered a partial two-to-three-day truce in some frontline areas.

Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov remarked, "It would be wrong to expect immediate solutions and breakthroughs," emphasizing the complexity of the settlement issue. As negotiations continued, both sides agreed on a large-scale swap of captured soldiers and exchanged peace "memorandums."

In a related development, Zelenskyy's chief of staff, Andriy Yermak, and Deputy Prime Minister Yulia Svrydenko arrived in the US to push for tougher sanctions against Russia. Despite the ongoing discussions, Peskov dismissed the possibility of a summit between the presidents of Russia, Ukraine, and the US, stating that such a meeting would only be feasible after negotiators reach an agreement.