Ukraine’s deputy PM promises more drone attacks after Crimean Bridge attack
Maritime drones "tore apart" the Crimean Bridge, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Digital Transformation, Mykhailo Fedorov, said in a Telegram post on July 17.
In his post, Fedorov also pledged to increase the production of drones in Ukraine in response to a Russian propaganda video that announced that the manufacturing of Russian Lancet kamikaze drones would increase by 50 times.
"Yesterday, a video from the production of Russian Lancet drones went viral online," said Fedorov.
“And today, the Crimean Bridge was blown up by maritime drones, so [increased manufacturing] it will be for every type of drone. It's better to act, not to blab photos of our own production facilities, and supply the defense forces.”
According to him, Ukraine's production of certain types of drones has increased more than 100 times compared to last year. At the same time, the official emphasized that even more drones are needed.
"And they will come," Fedorov added.
Crimean Bridge: the latest on the explosion
Since the early hours of July 17, all traffic on the Crimean Bridge has been suspended, as Sergei Aksyonov, the Kremlin-appointed “Crimean governor,” declared an “extraordinary event.”
Russian publications have reported on explosions and significant damage to at least one section of the bridge. The Russian Ministry of Transport later reported damage to the roadway.
Later, photos appeared confirming the serious destruction of at least one span. The occupation authorities announced the resumption of rail transportation, but road traffic remains paralyzed. Huge traffic jams have formed in front of the bridge, and the occupation administration is calling on Russians to travel through the temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine.
The governor of Russia’s Belgorod Oblast reported two dead and a child injured.
Russian media write that the Crimean Bridge could have been attacked by modified underwater drones. The Ukrainian Armed Forces hinted that the explosions could be a Russian provocation.
An NV source in law enforcement reported that Ukraine’s Security Service and the Ukrainian Navy were involved in the incident and the bridge was attacked using surface drones.
The SBU ironized that the bridge "failed to withstand the military load" and promised that all details about the organization of the attack would be disclosed after Ukraine's victory.
On Oct. 8, a powerful explosion occurred at the Crimean Bridge, which Russia employs to deploy armored vehicles and military personnel to southern Ukraine, resulting in the collapse of several sections into the Kerch Strait.
The Kremlin regime has accused Kyrylo Budanov, head of Ukrainian military intelligence, of organizing the sabotage. However, Budanov has refuted these claims, dismissing them as “baseless accusations.”
The military war may be swinging in our favor, but the information war continues.
Just as an army needs soldiers, so does a free society need its journalists to ensure that people have access to honest, trustworthy voices to understand the world around them.
For the past five years, The New Voice of Ukraine has been working tirelessly to push back against Russian narratives and defend democracy. But we cannot do it alone.
Please consider supporting us on Patreon for just $5 a month – your donation does directly to supporting journalists and ensuring that this front of the infowar says solid and defended.
Thank you.
Follow us on Twitter, Facebook and Google News
