09/19/2024 – Translated from Ukrainian via Google and OFP
The Crimean peninsula, which is under Russian occupation, is at a fever pitch today. Employees of the special services of the aggressor country have increased their activity in the search for “Ukrainian saboteurs”, and the military continues to build an echelon defense near the Kerch bridge – fearing new attacks.
Read more about the measures taken by the occupiers in the OBOZ.UA article.
Sacred bridge
The Kerch (or Crimean) bridge has a special, sacred meaning for the Russian dictator and is strategically important for the Russian army, as it connects the occupied peninsula, which has been turned into a large military base, with the territory of the Russian Federation.
For example, in the summer, it was confirmed that the army of the aggressor country, after a break, resumed the supply of fuel by the railway passing over the bridge.
Thus, the Kerch bridge is undoubtedly a legitimate target for the Defense Forces of Ukraine, as officials have repeatedly stated. In August, the representative of the Main Directorate of Intelligence of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine, Andriy Yusov, said that a plan had already been developed to destroy the bridge and return Crimea. Which, in turn, caused a real storm in the Russian information space.
In May, Russia also began building surface defenses of the Kerch Bridge – an echeloned system of boom barriers to protect against attacks by Ukrainian naval drones. In June, according to satellite data, it became clear that the occupiers installed a second line of boom fences with 21 barges and began to install piers, the longest of which is about 190 meters.
At the beginning of September, photo confirmation appeared that near the Kerch bridge, Russia is installing a network of fences made of metal bars , which are supposed to protect the concrete supports from underwater and surface attacks by naval drones. Near the bridge, anti-drone protection is also being installed with the help of boom fences and a chain of 33 barges, leaving a narrow shipping passage under the arch. Tetrapods and metal structures similar to anti-tank “hedgehogs” were also spotted there
Currently, in the Kerch Strait, work is also underway on the installation of metal piles, which are driven into the seabed parallel to the bridge.
In addition, in the water area of the strait, combat boats of various classes were seen alternating, as well as covered with camouflage nets of the anti-aircraft defense system near the fence piers.
Waiting for “surprises”
Yevgeny, a resident of the occupied peninsula , told OBOZ.UA that a new attack on the Kerch bridge “is expected from day to day”.
“The Russians are especially nervous after receiving information about the activity of British or American strategic reconnaissance planes monitoring Crimea. Immediately, warnings about possible strikes appear in Z-publics, which are veiledly called ‘provocations,'” he said.
At the same time, according to him, we are not necessarily talking about strikes on the Kerch bridge, but also on other (military) objects of the Russian occupiers on the peninsula.
Evgeny says that the withdrawal of the Black Sea Fleet from Sevastopol to Novorossiysk was very revealing and humiliating for the Russians.
“Previously, back in 2022, Kovitidi (“senator” from Crimea) convinced everyone that the Kerch bridge is the most protected in the world, but we all saw that this is not the case. Now Gauleiter Aksyonov saddled this topic, continuing to talk about “security” – and this is another bell. There were also many myths surrounding the Russian Black Sea Fleet, but “suddenly” its ships began to go to the bottom with fireworks, and as a result, the remnants of the fleet were taken to the Novorossiysk naval base. Adequate Crimeans do not believe the words of the occupiers , who were sold to Russia, are now trembling with fear. Both of them are sure of the inevitability of retribution,” said
a resident of Kerch .
Interlocutors of OBOZ.UA from several settlements of the occupied peninsula say that the activity of the FSB has increased significantly recently.
“Representatives of the Russian special service are currently conducting “preventive talks” with the management and employees of local companies. They also came to my sister’s place of work, warned about the dangers of recruitment by Ukrainian military intelligence and the SBU, and threatened with consequences – to the point of promising to terrorize close relatives “traitor”. They also told us that any interlocutor from Ukraine is an enemy, who can also be a spy,” a resident of Simferopol told us.
According to the Crimeans, the nervousness of the Russian invaders is very noticeable now. Despite their assurances that Russia is here forever, their actions suggest otherwise. In particular, the departure of families of Russian military personnel who discussed among themselves that “autumn will be very hot” continues from Crimea. Well, time will tell.
Not giving Ukraine the means to destroy this bridge is a massive strategic mistake by the West. This colossal blunder will be duly noted in recorded history.