Ukraine has dramatically stepped up attacks on Russian positions in illegally annexed Crimea, striking more than 60 military targets and destroying a key logistics bridge in a daring bid to cut off the peninsula from mainland Russia. The operation, carried out by Kyiv's special forces in coordination with local resistance fighters, represents a significant escalation in the conflict and a major embarrassment for Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Coordinated Attacks on Crimea
According to a Ukrainian source cited by the Mirror, the attacks were timed to cause maximum pressure on Putin. “This is a huge blow to Putin as it was his pride, a bridge which linked his country to retaken Crimea, a symbol of his spreading of influence,” the source said. “The Ukrainians have shown immense patience in awaiting their moment before attacking, timed to cause maximum embarrassment and pressure on Putin. Cutting off Crimea after 12 years of illegal annexation is hugely symbolic and the attack was launched after months of Ukraine depleting the Kremlin’s energy supplies with long-range strikes.”
The attacks followed days of drone and missile strikes on either side of the Kerch Strait, including on Putin's £3 billion Kerch Bridge. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky confirmed that Russia is redeploying air defense systems to Moscow and the Kerch Bridge, weakening other areas. He stated: “Measures taken by the Russian leadership in response to the situation have also been documented. One such measure is the redeployment of air defence systems from Russian regions to Moscow and to the Kerch Bridge. Basically, these are the two perimeters the Russians have been ordered to protect by weakening other areas on their own territory and in the temporarily occupied territory of Ukraine.”
Impact on Crimea and Russian Morale
Kyiv's attacks have plunged half of Crimea into darkness with electricity outages and major fuel shortages. Ukrainian troops struck over 60 targets using medium-range drones from distances of 20 to 120 miles. Power plants and gas distribution stations were destroyed, along with a drone pilot training ground in Donetsk. Ukrainian Defence Minister Mykhailo Fedorov recently declared: “Crimea is being isolated by drones. In the near future, the peninsula will become an island. For the Russians, the real hell is just beginning.”
Explosions were heard throughout Crimea overnight, and the Kerch Bridge was closed to traffic, effectively cutting off the peninsula. The coordinated effort aims to isolate Crimea and pressure Putin to end the war.
Russian Retaliation
Russia has retaliated fiercely, with strikes killing nine people across Ukraine on Tuesday. In Kryvyi Rig, Zelensky's hometown, two men aged 25 and 34, and a 54-year-old woman were killed. Separate attacks on the region killed three others, while strikes on Odesa, Zaporizhzhia, and Kherson each claimed one life. Zelensky warned: “We are preparing new, entirely just steps in response to Russia prolonging the war and its strikes on Ukrainian territory. It is important that as many Russians as possible come to understand that it is the Russian leadership’s rejection of diplomacy that is prolonging the war. Ukraine has put forward substantive diplomatic proposals.”
