Marichka attacked: how a ton of explosives was delivered under the Crimean bridge and when to expect the fourth strike
4 June 11:55
The bridge that was supposed to connect is coming apart at the seams. on June 3, the Security Service of Ukraine conducted a unique underwater attack on the Crimean bridge, planting more than a ton of explosives right under one of its pillars. This time, there were no loud explosions, but the consequences were much more serious. According to experts, the bridge may be in a state of emergency. What really happened under the Crimean Bridge? What technologies allowed the SBU to bypass Russia’s multi-level defense? Why this operation can become a precedent in hybrid naval warfare and when to expect the next strike,
Russia has been building the Crimean bridge across the Kerch Strait since 2016 and opened it in 2018-2020. russia has been actively using it to transfer troops and weapons to the temporarily occupied peninsula.
This is the third attack on the bridge:
- on October 8, 2022, a truck explosion caused a span to collapse and set off a fire.
- july 17, 2023 – SBU surface drones destroyed one of the spans.
- june 3, 2025 – an SBU underwater attack severely damaged the bridge’s supports.
The third attack on a strategic facility, but for the first time underwater. The operation lasted several months and, according to preliminary data, involved the use of more than a ton of explosives.
In an exclusive commentary for
“This means that we have found a loophole. The Ukrainian side was able to bypass the multi-layered and multi-component bridge protection system without the Russians seeing it. 1100 kg of explosives is no joke. It really worked,” noted Stupak.
According to him, despite the fact that the bridge is likely to remain functional, its capacity may have been reduced.
“Perhaps the bridge is now limited in use. It has a symbolic meaning for us – it is a bridge connecting the occupied Crimea with Russia. And we really wanted to cut it,” the expert emphasized.
Quiet depths: what is known about a new SBU underwater attack on the Crimean bridge
Defense Express analyzed another attack. According to preliminary data, the underwater supports of the pillars were seriously damaged at the bottom level – with the help of 1100 kg of explosives in TNT equivalent. This significantly affected the technical condition of the facility. In fact, the bridge is in a state of emergency. Given the depth of the explosion – about 10 meters – it will only be possible to determine the extent of the damage during special diving operations.
The absence of a spectacular explosion, as in previous cases, is quite natural: the attack took place underwater, which further complicates both repair and investigative actions on the spot. At the same time, the presence of a video recording of the explosion may indicate that the Russians hacked into the video surveillance system or installed their own surveillance equipment at the facility.
What exactly was the means of delivery of the explosives remains an open question. At the same time, the scale of the operation suggests the use of underwater drones rather than divers. Such a scenario seems likely against the backdrop of active Ukrainian developments in the field of maritime drones.
In particular, we are talking about the Toloka and Marichka drones:
- “The TLK 400 and TLK 1000 are more powerful versions that can travel from 1200 to 2000 km with a payload of up to 5000 kg. Although they have not been publicly demonstrated in action, it is known that these vehicles have the appropriate range, size, and potential to carry a significant amount of explosives.
- “The Marichka is a 6-meter-long, 1-meter-diameter underwater drone with a claimed range of up to 1,000 km and the ability to carry more than 1,000 kg of explosive payload. Its tests were demonstrated back in August 2023. It is known that the Marichka has a telescopic mast for navigation and communication, as seen in official images.
“It is possible that the underwater drone, if it was one, was installed under the bottom of the vessel, which was heading to a Russian port on the Azov Sea. This then eliminates the issue of power reserve and autonomy, and also solves the issue of bypassing acoustic control. But this takes away from the currently known Ukrainian underwater drones, because its task would be to cover a much shorter distance,” – Defence Express
Despite the lack of official confirmation of the means used, Ukraine has the technological base for such attacks. And if the suspicions are confirmed, we may be talking about a new era of hybrid naval warfare – from the depths.
When to expect the fourth strike on the Crimean bridge
Ivan Stupak also suggests that there may be new similar strikes in the future:
“Repeated operations are possible. Their planning takes a long time, but perhaps something is already being prepared. Special services always plan many operations simultaneously, and we will see the results.”
This new strike on the Crimean bridge is another confirmation that Ukrainian special services are capable of acting not only effectively but also unpredictably.
