On Friday, Russia issued a stark warning, stating it would respond with a “devastating revenge strike” should Ukraine attack Crimea or the Crimean Bridge. This strategic bridge connects southern Russia to Crimea across the Black Sea and has been previously targeted by Kyiv.
Moscow expressed concerns that Ukraine, recently equipped with long-range ATACM guided missile systems from the United States, plans to strike the bridge around May 9—the date Russia commemorates the Soviet victory in World War II over Nazi Germany.
Since Russia’s annexation of Crimea from Ukraine in 2014, Kyiv has consistently challenged the legality of the bridge’s construction, which has been used to transport troops and weapons. Ukraine maintains its claim over Crimea.
Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova highlighted various statements and social media posts by Ukrainian and European Union officials indicating potential threats to the bridge. Notably, Ukraine’s U.N. Ambassador Sergiy Kyslytsya posted what he termed a “2024 list of 6 Main Types of Bridges” on social media platform X on May 1. The final entry in this list, labeled “Kerch”—the Crimean town at one end of the bridge—was notably left blank, implying possible intentions of destruction.
Zakharova remarked during a news briefing that the Crimean Bridge “is once again in the crosshairs,” reflecting heightened tensions and the strategic significance of the structure.
