Ukraine claims responsibility for the July Crimean Bridge attack: the use of unmanned boats in Crimea to attack the bridge
Recently, the Ukrainian National Security Agency claimed responsibility for the Crimean Bridge attack on July 17th, stating that the attack was carried out by unmanned boats.
According to CNN on August 15th, Vasil Maliuk, the Director of Ukraine's National Security Agency, stated that the unmanned boats used by Ukraine in its attack on the Crimean Bridge were independently developed by Ukraine. This model of unmanned boat has recently not only participated in attacks against the Crimean Bridge, but also attacked a Russian Navy warship and an oil tanker. Previously, the Ukrainian side had been ambiguous and had not acknowledged that the related attacks were carried out by the Ukrainian side.
At around 3am local time on July 17th, two unmanned boats loaded with 850 kilograms of explosives launched an attack on the Crimean Bridge, resulting in the death of two people. The Russian side claimed that a couple died in the attack, and their 14-year-old daughter was injured in the attack.
The Crimean Bridge began construction in 2014 and was completed in 2018, with a length of approximately 19 kilometers. As a strategic hub connecting Crimea and mainland Russia, the bridge has repeatedly become a target of Ukraine's attacks. Prior to the attack in July this year, the bridge was damaged in a truck explosion in October 2022, and Ukraine claimed responsibility for the attack.