Ukraine to destroy Crimean bridge by mid-summer - The Sun

Ukrainian authorities say they will destroy Vladimir Putin's favourite bridge by mid-July. That means they have about 100 days to do the almost impossible. The Sun reports that.

Hell raining down on the £3bn structure with Storm Shadow missiles, maritime drones and newly arrived F-16s could finally cut Russia's only land bridge to Crimea, a weapons expert told the publication.

For Putin, the Kerch Bridge, which he called a "miracle", is a symbol of his supposed triumph in "returning" Crimea to its homeland. For Ukraine, however, it is target number one - a grotesque demonstration of decades of Russian occupation. Its destruction would be an important step toward winning the war in the Black Sea, as it would cut off major Russian military supply routes and strangle Putin's war machine," the publication writes.

Brian Clark, a senior fellow at the Hudson Institute and director of the Centre for Defence Concepts and Technology, believes Ukraine could well do it, but it needs the right weapons.

"The bridge could be destroyed with a 'multi-directional' air and sea attack in the style of a big bang," he told The Sun.

Clarke, an expert in naval operations and electronic warfare, predicted Storm Shadow missiles would be used to destroy its structure, while unmanned boats carrying explosives could detonate at its base.

The newspaper recalls that the SBU has already organised two daring attacks on the bridge in the past. Both times it was repaired.

A naval drone strike at midnight last July caused significant damage to this section of the road, which deprived Russia of the ability to move tanks and supplies into Crimea. In October 2022, an explosive-laden truck blew a gaping hole in the centre of the bridge, setting fire to the railway and submerging part of the road under water. Now Ukraine is preparing a third fierce attack that will finally destroy it," the article sasanised.

The journalists point out that the Defence Ministry's GSD has already said that Ukraine already has "most of the means to achieve this goal" and that it is part of President Vladimir Zelensky's plan to end the Russian naval presence in the Black Sea.

A source close to the Ukrainian Defence Ministry confirmed to The Sun that "this is absolutely feasible".