Ukrainian intelligence forces have claimed responsibility for a fresh sabotage mission targeting the bridge connecting Crimea to mainland Russia via the Kerch Strait—an attack that follows a high-profile drone assault on Russia’s bomber fleet just days prior.
According to a statement, video, and photo posted on the agency’s official Telegram channel, the planning and execution of the bridge mission had been underway for several months. “SBU agents mined the supports of this illegal facility,” the statement read. “And today, without any civilian casualties, at 4:44 am the first explosive device was activated.”
The SBU described major structural harm beneath the waterline, stating, “The underwater supports of the piers were severely damaged at the bottom level — 1,100 kg of explosives in TNT equivalent contributed to this. In fact, the bridge is in a state of emergency.”
SBU director Vasyl Malyuk added, “Previously, we hit the Crimean Bridge twice in 2022 and 2023. So, today we continued this tradition under water.”
Bridge administrators reported a temporary closure of the crossing following the incident. Official Russian responses, including from the Defense Ministry, had not been issued at the time of the statement.
Elsewhere, ongoing Russian strikes on Ukrainian urban areas killed at least eight civilians and left more than 50 injured overnight. According to Ukrainian authorities, 112 drones were launched across the country, 75 of which were intercepted before causing damage. Affected areas included 11 separate locations.
The most serious casualties were reported in regions near the front lines. In Sumy, local officials said four people were killed and 28 others hurt in a cluster rocket attack, with multiple explosions occurring in a busy part of the city. “Savage strike” and “fully deliberate attack on civilians” were the words President Volodymyr Zelenskyy used to describe the incident in a social media post.
In Kharkiv, shelling took three lives and injured six others, while one death and 13 injuries were reported in Kherson due to Russian fire. Authorities also confirmed five people were wounded in Chernihiv and five more in the coastal city of Odesa.
Zelenskyy commented that Russia’s actions show a lack of real intent to find a peaceful resolution, despite current diplomatic efforts. Delegations from both Ukraine and Russia met for renewed talks in Istanbul this week, marking their second round of face-to-face negotiations since May and the first since spring 2022.
Kyiv is requesting a full one-month truce to enable focused peace discussions. Prior to the talks, Zelenskyy reiterated that Ukraine wants all prisoners released and abducted Ukrainian children returned from Russia. He also signaled willingness to eventually speak directly with President Vladimir Putin.
Russia, in turn, presented a set of demands that echo its earlier positions from the beginning of the war. In its “peace memorandum,” Russia proposed that Ukraine fully exit four territories Moscow claims—Zaporizhzhia, Kherson, Donetsk, and Luhansk—even those where its troops do not maintain full control. The Kremlin also insisted on Ukraine halting all foreign weapons imports and ending military mobilization, conditions Ukraine has firmly dismissed.
Additionally, Russia is calling for restrictions on Ukraine’s military size, a permanent ban on joining NATO, international recognition of its control over annexed Ukrainian land, lifting of sanctions, and an end to demands for reparations.
Following the Istanbul meeting, a Kremlin representative confirmed that no meaningful advancements had been made, remarking, “It would be wrong to expect any immediate decisions or breakthroughs here. But work is ongoing.” He also downplayed the likelihood of a summit involving Putin, Zelenskyy, and Donald Trump happening soon.
Meanwhile, Dmitry Medvedev, now serving as deputy head of Russia’s Security Council, used Telegram to emphasize that the negotiations were not about compromise. He said the goal was “not meant to achieve a compromise peace based on some imaginary and unrealistic conditions invented by others, but rather to secure our swift victory and the complete destruction” of Zelenskyy’s government.
In a fresh statement, Zelenskyy stressed, “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 continued, “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 defense. 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.”
That same night, Ukraine conducted strikes deeper inside Russian territory. Russia’s Defense Ministry claimed its forces brought down eight Ukrainian drones during the night.
This came on the heels of Ukraine’s latest long-range assault targeting Russian military infrastructure. In that earlier mission, drones hidden in transport vehicles struck several key airfields within Russia. Zelenskyy characterized that effort as a “strategic operation” in an interview, saying it “is definitely reducing Russia’s potential, and demonstrates that Ukraine is working on certain steps.”
“Unless they will stop, we will continue,” he stated.
Responding to questions about the level of American support, Zelenskyy said, “We are looking for very strong steps on the part of President Trump to support the sanctions and to force President Putin to stop this war, or at least proceed with the first stage of putting an end to this war — that is the ceasefire.”
