Destroying the Kerch Strait Bridge is crucial for Ukraine as it disrupts Russian supply lines to Crimea and undermines the logistical support for Russian military operations, isolating Crimea economically and militarily.
The so-called Crimean Minister of Transport, Nikolai Lukashenko, confirmed that Ukrainian forces targeted transport infrastructure in Kerch.
“During the repulsion of the enemy attack on transport infrastructure in Kerch, two ferries—a car ferry and a rail ferry—were damaged by shrapnel from downed missiles,” he wrote on Telegram. “There were no casualties among sailors or civilians. Ferry service will resume after damage assessment.
Ukrainska Pravda reported that following a series of explosions, Russian authorities briefly closed traffic on the Kerch Strait bridge. The portal also noted that around 20 explosions were heard in the city.
Moscow retaliates
Russian forces launched cruise missiles from Tu-95 strategic bombers and Shahed attack drones at targets in Ukraine, Ukrainian air forces reported on Thursday morning.
A Ukrainian blogger, known as Mykolaivskyi Vanyok, said that Russians are targeting Starokostiantyniv, believing it will host the anticipated F-16 aircraft for Ukraine.
“Starokostiantyniv in Khmelnytskyi region is our air shield. It is the place that (Russians) believe will host the new birds (F-16 aircraft),” the blogger wrote on Telegram.
The Ukrainian military disclosed that Kh-101 cruise missiles were launched from Tu-95 bombers operating from Engels airfield in Russia’s Saratov region. Additionally, Iranian-made Shahed attack drones were launched from Primorsko-Akhtarsk in Russia and Cape Chauda in occupied Crimea.
Ukrainian Air Force Commander General Mykola Oleshchuk said that Russia used 11 Kh-101 and Kh-55 missiles and 32 Shahed drones for the night attacks.
“As a result of anti-aircraft combat, 7 Kh-101/Kh-555 cruise missiles and 32 Shahed-131/136 attack UAVs were shot down,” he wrote on Telegram.
