Russia has deployed Pantsir missiles and more defensive barges to the Crimean Bridge, - BI
Date: 2024-10-02 Author: Кирило Загоруйко Categories: WAR
Russia is stepping up its defenses around the Crimean Bridge against possible attacks from Ukraine, in particular from its sea drones.
This is evidenced by new satellite images taken by Maxar Technologies over the weekend. The images, obtained by Business Insider, show an increase in defensive measures around the Kerch Bridge in Crimea.
In early May, Russia began placing barges on the southern side of the bridge to protect it and the shipping channel from possible attacks by Ukrainian drones. However, according to Western intelligence, storms damaged some of the barriers.
By June, the defenses were strengthened with additional barges and floating barriers parallel to the bridge. However, new satellite images show a significant increase in the number of barges protecting the bridge.
Ukraine is actively using its own naval drones to target Russian military vessels and other targets in the Black Sea Fleet, prompting Moscow to step up its defenses of key facilities such as the Kerch Bridge and the ports of Sevastopol and Novorossiysk.
Analyst Brady Africk of the American Enterprise Institute also pointed out the new defensive barriers in a post on X, noting significant changes from May to late September.
In addition to these barriers, Russia has installed other defensive measures to protect the bridge. New satellite images show two Pantsir air defense systems near the bridge, which appeared there between August 18 and 23. Their location suggests that Russia is wary not only of threats from the sea, but also of possible air attacks.
The bridge has previously been the target of a truck bomb, and Russia has claimed that Ukraine tried to hit the bridge with ballistic missiles obtained from the United States, but the attack allegedly failed. Kiev is also equipping its naval drones with missiles, adding to the threat.
Construction of the Kerch Bridge began after the annexation of Crimea in 2014 and was a major achievement for Russian President Vladimir Putin, symbolizing the Kremlin’s desire to hold on to the peninsula.
Ukraine has repeatedly said it intends to destroy the bridge because of its importance as a supply route for the Russian military after the 2022 invasion. However, the destruction of the bridge would now have more symbolic significance than military, as Russia has become less reliant on it to support its forces in Crimea. In June, a Ukrainian naval spokesman noted that most of the cargo was now being transported by ferries, which have also been targeted by Kyiv.
