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Ukraine says key Crimea rail bridge destroyed in drone strikes
Developing
What we know
Ukraine’s Special Operations Forces said Tuesday that a railway bridge over the North Crimean Canal near the village of Rozdolne in Russian-occupied Crimea “no longer exists,” describing it as a strategic logistics artery used to move cargo and military supplies through the peninsula toward southern Ukraine.
According to Kyiv, drones first damaged the span overnight Monday, collapsing part of the track; a second strike early Tuesday hit remaining sections and railway repair gear that had arrived on site. The Defense Ministry also reported drone hits on an oil depot at the Kerch thermal power plant, a western electrical substation, and an LNG distribution station in Simferopol. AP said the claims could not be independently verified and that Russian officials made no immediate comment; Crimea’s energy supplier blamed outages on “technical malfunctions.”
What's confirmed
- SOF statement Tuesday: North Crimean Canal rail bridge near Rozdolne destroyed in two-phase drone operation with claimed local resistance support (AP/Euronews/Kyiv Independent/Interfax-Ukraine).
- Ukrainian Defense Ministry: additional Tuesday strikes on Kerch power-plant oil storage, a western substation, and Simferopol LNG site (AP).
- AP: Russian officials offered no immediate comment; independent verification of bridge destruction not available Tuesday (AP).
- Crimea energy supplier: parts of peninsula without power Tuesday, attributed to grid “technical malfunctions,” restoration expected within 24 hours (AP).
What's still developing
- Independent confirmation of the bridge’s status and any Russian repair timeline.
- Whether the strikes materially slow Russian logistics into Kherson and Azov-coast sectors.
Sources
- AP News — Ukraine says it hit a railway bridge to Crimea, seeking to isolate the Russian-held peninsula link
- Euronews — Ukraine says key Crimea rail bridge ‘no longer exists’ after drone strikes link
- Kyiv Independent — Ukraine destroys key railway bridge in occupied Crimea link
- Interfax-Ukraine — Bridge across North Crimean Canal destroyed - AFU link