On Friday, Russia announced it successfully repelled a nighttime attack involving 12 US-made ATACMS missiles aimed at the Crimea Bridge, a critical infrastructure constructed under President Vladimir Putin’s orders following Moscow’s annexation of the peninsula.
According to the Russian defense ministry, “Air defenses were deployed last night to thwart a coordinated strike by 12 ATACMS missiles on the Crimean bridge. All the missiles were intercepted and destroyed.”
The Crimean Bridge, inaugurated in 2018, links the Crimean Peninsula with southern Russia’s Krasnodar region and has been a focal point of tensions since the onset of the conflict between Russia and Ukraine.
This latest attempt is part of a broader pattern of Ukrainian efforts to target the bridge since Russia’s military offensive began in February 2022. The Ukrainian government has frequently launched attacks or attempted attacks on the bridge, underscoring its strategic significance.
Earlier on Friday, Russia’s defense ministry reported that its helicopters had also destroyed five naval drones in the Black Sea that were heading toward Crimea.
The ongoing conflict has seen escalating tensions between Russia and the United States. In June, Moscow had issued a stern warning to the US, following a Ukrainian strike with an American missile on Sevastopol in Crimea that resulted in four casualties. This prompted Russia to summon the US ambassador and caution against further involvement.
The situation remains volatile as both sides continue to engage in military and diplomatic confrontations.
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