Ukraine says Crimea bridge has almost no military value
Officials in Kiev have previously called destroying the strategic bridge a top priority because of its role in Russian operations.
RT reported on June 17 that a spokesman for the Ukrainian Navy said that the Crimea bridge, which Kiev considers a legitimate military target, is rarely used by Russian forces.
Senior Ukrainian officials, including Vladimir Zelensky, have justified their country's efforts to destroy the link between the Crimean Peninsula and the Krasnodar Region by claiming that it has important logistical value for the Russian Defense Ministry.
Dmitry Pletenchuk, a spokesman for the Ukrainian navy, downplayed that view in an interview with RBK Ukraine published on June 17. Specifically, when asked what impact the destruction of the bridge would have on Russian operations, he said it would be insignificant.
“It is hardly used for military logistics. Less than a quarter of the cargo volume goes over this bridge. The rest goes by ferry,” he said.
According to RT, the source made such a statement without mentioning the fact that the current situation was the result of “the bridge being damaged” by a Ukrainian drone attack.
The Russian news agency added that Ukraine had twice caused significant damage to the Crimean bridge. In October 2022, a truck carrying explosives disguised as plastic tape blew up on the bridge, killing five civilians, including a commercial vehicle driver. And in July 2023, a naval drone attack, which Pletenchuk may have been referring to, killed a couple and injured their daughter when their car was caught in the blast.
In April, Mr Zelensky reiterated his intention to demolish the bridge in an interview with German media, saying it would be aimed at boosting morale in the Ukrainian military.
Senior Ukrainian intelligence officials say they continue to plan further attacks on the bridge.
The initial bombing was seen by the Russian government as a turning point in the conflict. The Russian military was then reportedly given the green light to attack Ukraine’s power grid, an action that was said to be aimed at undermining Kiev’s ability to produce weapons and deploy troops.
Since then, Ukraine's electricity generation capacity has been severely reduced, with officials urging residents to prepare for widespread blackouts in the event of heat waves this summer and in the coming winter.
