The Crimean Bridge is a symbol of power for Putin – and a tempting target for Ukraine. But a Ukrainian intelligence expert recommends a different strategy in the war.

Kiev – The Russian regime warned of a „devastating retaliatory strike” if Ukraine attacks the Russian-annexed Crimea peninsula or the Crimean bridgehead again. The reason: There is speculation in Russia that Ukraine may be planning a major attack – on the occasion of “Victory Day,” which Russia marks on May 9 with an exhibition of captured military equipment. A simultaneous attack on the bridge connecting the peninsula to mainland Russia, It would be humiliating Russian President Vladimir Putin.

This was announced by a Ukrainian military intelligence officer in the British newspaper in April Watchman To: “We will destroy the bridge in the first half of 2024” The destruction of the bridge, which has already been attacked twice, is “inevitable.”

Now a Ukrainian intelligence expert is explicitly warning against destroying the Crimean Bridge. This is not out of fear of Putin’s revenge, but because he considers this a waste of Ukraine’s already scarce military resources.

“What will the destruction of the Crimean Bridge bring us?” Warning against wrong tactics in the Ukraine war

“What will the destruction of the Crimean Bridge bring us?” asks Ivan Stupak, a former employee of the Ukrainian Internal Intelligence Service. Interview with Ukrainian News Agency Union. Destroying the Crimean Bridge will be complex and difficult. The bridge was repeatedly damaged in previous attacks, but has since been restored. „It’s not doing well.”

Stupak believes that future attempts to destroy the bridge would be a waste of energy. Especially since Russia has now responded: it is clear that Putin’s army is no longer using the bridge for military purposes.

A Ukrainian open source agency recently found using satellite images that far fewer trains pass through the Kerch Bridge than in the past. Instead, Russia is now increasingly using land routes into the annexed areas of eastern Ukraine to supply the front lines of the Ukrainian war.

The head of Ukrainian domestic intelligence, Wasyl Malik, said in March 2024 that Russia would no longer use the Crimean bridge to deliver weapons. Trains that passed the bridge now transport only people and consumer goods.

In the war against Russia, Ukraine should attack other targets instead of the Crimean bridgehead

Ukrainian military expert Stupak recommends in an interview with Union Therefore, no more missiles and ammunition are wasted on attacks on the Kerch Bridge. Instead, the Ukrainian military should attack Russian targets whose destruction would be of greater benefit. Stupak cites „headquarters and depots” as examples, as well as air defense complexes, aircraft and airfields.

For example, if Ukraine destroyed a Russian S300 anti-aircraft missile complex, this would directly help Ukrainian defense: Russia could then immediately shoot down fewer Ukrainian planes and drop fewer missiles on soldiers, “meaning we don’t lose.” Any military or military forces.” Civilians. This is a great added value. This is also a direct effect.” Because they meant to “destroy Putin’s money.”