“Attack on the Crimean bridge takes place before midsummer”

Ukraine has tried twice.

Now they have advanced plans to lower Putin’s pride once and for all.

– We will do it in the first half of 2024, says an intelligence source.

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The Crimean bridge over the Kerch Strait connects the occupied peninsula with Russia.

For Putin, the 18-kilometer long bridge is the main symbol of his “greatest political success” – Crimea’s “return” to Russia.

In addition, it is vital for military war transports from the Russian mainland.

Increase morale

If the bridge falls, you are forced to unsafe transport through the occupied parts of southern Ukraine where you are more exposed to sabotage operations.

For Ukraine, the Crimean bridge is a hated symbol of the Russian invasion.

The Ukrainian leadership sees the destruction of the bridge as a way to boost morale among the troops and the population.

But also that it would make it more difficult for the Kremlin to advance on Ukrainian soil.

Attempts have been made to destroy the bridge on two occasions, with a bomb smuggled on a truck in October 2022 and in a dawn drone raid last July.

Created chaos

In both attacks, parts of the bridge were badly damaged, but could be put back into use after repairs.

In addition to disrupting transportation, the bombings had the positive outcome for Ukraine of creating chaos among Russians in Crimea.

Many tourists on the peninsula to sunbathe and swim fled in panic back to the mainland.

Now say intelligence sources in Ukraine to The Guardian that the destruction of the bridge is “inevitable”.

Happening until midsummer

The military intelligence service HUR has been behind several drone attacks against Russian oil refineries and ports in recent weeks.

An attack earlier this week on a drone factory in Tatarstan took place more than 120 miles from the Ukrainian border, writes The Guardian.

But the bridge is the big target to shake Russia and Putin.

And sources within HUR believe that it could happen soon.

– We will do it in the first half of 2024, says an intelligence source to The Guardian.

According to the newspaper’s information, intelligence chief Kyrylo Budanov “already has most of the resources required to carry out the mission”.

Part of larger plan

A bombing of the bridge is part of a plan ordered by President Volodymyr Zelensky to “minimize the Russian naval presence in the Black Sea”, writes The Guardian.

In recent months, Ukraine has sunk seven landing craft and other vessels belonging to Russia’s Black Sea Fleet.

According to the intelligence sources, these attacks are preparatory operations for a new attempt to knock out the Crimean bridge.

However, The Guardian writes that it is unclear what a third attack would look like and that it is “extremely doubtful that HUR would be capable of successfully carrying out a special operation against such a well-guarded and obvious target”.