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Ukraine-Russia war latest: Crimean bridge blown up in massive explosion, say Kyiv's special forces

Ukraine-Russia war latest: Crimean bridge blown up in massive explosion, say Kyiv's special forces

Independent03-06-2025
A bridge linking Russia and Crimea has been blown up in a massive explosion carried out by Ukraine 's special forces.
The 12-mile-long Crimean Bridge, or Kerch Bridge, links Russia with the occupied peninsula which Russian troops annexed in 2014.
Footage showed an underwater explosion destroying a pillar of the bridge as Ukraine 's SBU vowed there was 'no place for any illegal Russian facilities on the territory of our state'.
The SBU said it rigged the bridge's pillars with 1,100kg of explosives. 'The Crimean Bridge is an absolutely legitimate target, especially considering that the enemy used it as a logistical artery to supply its troops,' it said.
It comes after Moscow told Ukraine that it would only agree to end the war if Kyiv gives up big chunks of territory and accepts limits on the size of its army, according to a memorandum.
'Savage' Russian attack on Sumy shows need for sanctions, says Zelensky
Russia's 'savage' attack on Sumy shows the need for further sanctions on the Kremlin, Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky said.
'It is obvious: without global pressure – without decisive actions from the United States, Europe, and everyone in the world who has the power – Putin will not agree even to a ceasefire,' he said.
'Not a single day goes by without Russia striking Ukrainian cities and villages. Every day, we lose our people to Russian terror. Every day, Russia gives new reasons for tougher sanctions and stronger support for our defence.
'I am grateful to everyone around the world who is promoting exactly this agenda: sanctions for aggression and the killing of people, and assistance in defending the lives of Ukrainians.'
Alexander Butler3 June 2025 21:00
Inside Operation Spiderweb: Ukraine's drone triumph is a blow against Russia that will spook friend and foe alike
Ukraine's Operation Spiderweb is blow to Russia that will spook friend and foe alike
Operation Spiderweb is a triumph of intelligence and technological cunning that our enemies will be studying, says world affairs editor Sam Kiley
Alexander Butler3 June 2025 20:00
Medvedev says Russia seeks victory, not compromise, in talks with Ukraine
Senior Russian security official Dmitry Medvedev said on Tuesday that the point of holding peace talks with Ukraine was to ensure a swift and complete Russian victory.
"The Istanbul talks are not for striking a compromise peace on someone else's delusional terms but for ensuring our swift victory and the complete destruction of the neo-Nazi regime," the hawkish deputy chairman of Russia's Security Council said on Telegram.
"That's what the Russian Memorandum published yesterday is about."
Alexander Butler3 June 2025 19:00
Sanctions on Russia needed as Putin doesn't want ceasefire, says Zelensky's aide
Russia does not want a ceasefire and new sanctions are needed now to force it to pursue peace, the chief of staff to the Ukrainian president said yesterday.
"The Russians are doing everything to not cease firing and continue the war. New sanctions now are very important," said Andriy Yermak, head of the Ukrainian president's office.
Mr Yermak posted his remarks on Telegram, hours after the conclusion of peace talks in Istanbul between Russian and Ukrainian delegations.
Alexander Butler3 June 2025 18:00
Watch moment Russia's Crimean bridge blown up in huge explosion by Ukraine forces
Watch moment Russia's Crimean bridge blown up in huge explosion by Ukraine forces
Video footage has captured the moment a bridge linking Russia and Crimea is blown up in a huge explosion carried out by Ukraine's special forces. The 12-mile-long Crimean Bridge, or Kerch Bridge, links Russia with the occupied peninsula which Russian troops annexed in 2014. Footage shows an underwater explosion destroying a pillar of the bridge as Ukraine's SBU vowed there was 'no place for any illegal Russian facilities on the territory of our state'. The SBU said it rigged the bridge's pillars with 1,100kg of explosives. 'The Crimean Bridge is an absolutely legitimate target, especially considering that the enemy used it as a logistical artery to supply its troops,' it said.
Alexander Butler3 June 2025 17:00
Pictured: Crimean bridge underwater explosion
Alexander Butler3 June 2025 16:00
Pictured: Soldiers of Ukraine's 30th Separate Mechanized Brigade fire a Grad multiple rocket launcher towards Russian positions in Donetsk
Alexander Butler3 June 2025 15:30
Ukraine invited to Nato summit, says Zelensky
Volodymyr Zelensky said Ukraine has received an invitation to attend the upcoming Nato summit at The Hague.
There had been uncertainty about whether Kyiv would be invited given Donald Trump's stance on blocking Ukraine from joining Nato.
'We were invited to the Nato summit. I think this is important,' the Ukrainian president said after he held a meeting with the military alliance's secretary general Mark Rutte in Vilnius.
Alexander Butler3 June 2025 15:00
Russia accuses Ukraine of terrorism after railway bridge blasts
Russia's state Investigative Committee accused Ukraine on Tuesday of carrying out "acts of terrorism" by blowing up two railway bridges in Russia over the weekend.
The attacks were planned to target hundreds of civilians, the committee said on Telegram. It said seven people were killed and 113 injured, including children, when two trains crashed in Russia's Kursk and Bryansk regions as a result of the attacks.
Alexander Butler3 June 2025 14:47
Watch: Ukraine blows up bridge linking Russia and Crimea
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