Ukraine claims Crimea bridge destruction as Russia targets Zelenskyy’s hometown
Kyiv reports the North Crimean Canal railway bridge is destroyed, while Moscow considers a diesel export ban following sustained energy sector attacks.
Ukraine’s Special Operations Forces have claimed the destruction of a major railway bridge over the North Crimean Canal in Russian-occupied Crimea, describing the structure as a vital logistical artery for Russian forces. In a statement posted to Telegram on Tuesday, the unit asserted that the bridge “no longer exists,” noting its critical role in transporting cargo, resources, and military supplies between the annexed peninsula and mainland Russia via the Kerch Strait.
Ukrainian Defence Minister Mykhailo Federov stated that drone attacks are currently isolating the peninsula, predicting that Crimea could soon become an “island” with “unexpected consequences” for Russian military operations. This claim follows a broader Ukrainian campaign targeting energy infrastructure, including previous strikes on oil refineries in Crimea that suspended fuel sales on the peninsula, and a significant drone attack on a key oil refinery near Moscow on June 18.
In response to the escalating pressure on its energy sector, Russian Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak announced that the government is considering a ban on diesel exports to stabilise the domestic fuel market. Novak confirmed that Russia is also boosting domestic fuel production and drafting tax proposals to assist the energy industry, amidst gas shortages resulting from Ukrainian strikes on refineries and depots.
Concurrently, Russia launched a retaliatory ballistic missile attack on Kryvyi Rih, the hometown of President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. Ukrainian authorities confirmed the weapon used a cluster munition warhead. The strike resulted in three deaths and injured more than 20 people, marking a direct hit on a city of significant symbolic importance to the Ukrainian leadership.
Russian President Vladimir Putin addressed the ongoing conflict in his first comments since the attack on the Moscow refinery, telling graduates of military and security institutions that Ukraine aims to “destabilise society” through strikes on civilian infrastructure. Putin argued that these actions, supported by Western assistance and large numbers of drones, are designed to create uncertainty regarding the actions of the Russian armed forces.
Since the full-scale invasion began in February 2022, Russia has steadily targeted Ukrainian hospitals, power plants, and other civilian infrastructure. Conversely, Ukraine has recently improved its capability to strike targets deep inside Russian territory using advanced drone systems, intensifying the reciprocal damage to strategic and civilian assets on both sides of the conflict.
The destruction of the North Crimean Canal bridge, if verified, would represent a significant escalation in Ukraine’s strategy to sever logistical links to the annexed territory, which Russia seized in 2014. While independent verification of the extent of the damage remains pending, the Ukrainian military’s assertion underscores a shift towards more aggressive long-range strikes aimed at disrupting Russian supply lines and domestic energy stability.
