Russia repels major missile assault on Crimea Bridge

Russian officials have announced a successful defense against a substantial missile attack on the Crimea Bridge.

According to AFP, the bridge, a critical infrastructure piece constructed following Russia’s annexation of Crimea under President Vladimir Putin’s orders, was the focal point of this aggressive assault.

On Friday, the Russian Defence Ministry reported that air defenses were mobilized during the night to intercept and destroy a group strike comprising 12 ATACMS missiles, which are manufactured in the United States.

“Air defences were used last night to deflect a group strike by 12 ATACMS missiles made in the US on the Crimean bridge. All the missiles were destroyed,” the ministry stated.

The targeted bridge, inaugurated by President Putin in 2018, serves as a vital connection between Kerch in Crimea and the Krasnodar region in southern Russia. It has repeatedly been a target for Ukrainian forces since Moscow initiated its military offensive in February 2022.

The Crimea region has been a strategic and symbolic battleground in the Russo-Ukrainian conflict. Earlier on Friday, Russia’s defense ministry also reported that helicopters had successfully neutralized five naval drones in the Black Sea, which were en route to Crimea.

This recent attack is part of a broader pattern of hostilities. In June, the Kremlin issued a stern warning to the United States about the “consequences” of its support for Ukraine, following a deadly strike on Sevastopol in Crimea, which Moscow attributed to a US missile. This incident resulted in the deaths of four individuals and heightened tensions between the involved nations.