The Crimean Bridge has long been on Ukraine’s list of goals. Russia is becoming increasingly nervous.
It was probably meant as a joke when the Lithuanian ambassador to Sweden, Linas Linkevičius, showed a picture of the Crimean Bridge, a departing rocket and Vladimir Putin on X at the end of April and wrote: “If someone hasn’t had the chance to see a picture of the There is still time to make the Kerch Bridge.” The bridge also bears this name because of the Strait of Kerch that crosses it. That didn’t go down well in Moscow.
Dmitry Polyansky, Russia’s deputy representative to the United Nations, warned Linkevičius, who was also his country’s foreign minister. There will come “a day of supreme judgment” when “submissive Baltic swamps” will regret such statements.
Russian spokeswoman warns the USA
Nervousness in Russia seems to be growing. On Friday, the Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman added: Preparations by the USA and its allies for an attack would result in retaliation, said Maria Vladimirovna Zakharova. She saw the Crimean bridge under fire again.
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In fact, the bridge was significantly damaged in 2022 when a truck carrying explosives exploded on it. But it could be repaired. Since then, there have been repeated Ukrainian attempts, including with sea drones, to disconnect the important connection to the mainland – so far unsuccessful.
But that could change. The USA has announced additional ATACMS missiles for Ukraine. Although these do not yet reach the bridge, they can attack the Russian air defense in Crimea. In terms of range, a hit on the bridge would be possible with German Taurus rockets, which can fly up to 500 kilometers. But Chancellor Olaf Scholz has so far stuck to his no to the delivery.
Attack with F-16 fighter jets?
Zakharova already sees preparations for an attack and for her this includes help from the West. She refers to the American ATACMS missiles. And: According to Newsweek, she referred to the announced delivery of F-16 fighter jets that could reach the Crimean bridge. Given the still strong Russian air defense, it is likely to be questionable whether Ukraine would send a newly delivered jet on such a mission.
“We would like to once again warn Washington, London and Brussels that any aggressive action against Crimea is not only doomed to failure, but will also result in an indestructible retaliatory strike,” Zakharova said, without elaborating.
As is often the case, Russia is trying to draw a red line to prevent the West from providing further aid. The Crimean Bridge is Putin’s flagship building, which he had built after the seizure of the peninsula in violation of international law. Shortly before Military Day on May 9, a successful attack would be humiliating for him. But it would also cut off an important supply route.
If the bridge were to be permanently damaged, Moscow would be forced to transport military supplies by road through occupied southern Ukraine. The route would pass through the Kherson and Zaporizhzhia provinces, which Russia partially captured in spring 2022 but where heavy fighting is still raging.
Scientist: Tactical nuclear strikes could happen
As for the retaliatory strikes that Russia mentions, they are likely to be directed against Ukraine. The political scientist Gerhard Mangott does not assume that there would be area bombings on Ukrainian cities, “because the cities in Ukraine are well protected,” he told ntv. However, he warns of another, more dangerous scenario: “A recourse to tactical nuclear weapons, that could happen, a demonstrative test of such a nuclear weapon or a detonation of such a nuclear weapon in the atmosphere could be a devastating counterattack.”
