Russia Using Barges to Protect Crimea Bridge: UK

Russia is using barges to protect Crimea's Kerch Bridge, according to a new report by the United Kingdom's Ministry of Defense (MOD).

The MOD said an analysis of imagery has identified the appearance of eight barges on the southern side of the bridge, which the ministry said could serve as a defensive measure for the structure.

The Kerch Bridge, also known as the Kerch Strait Bridge or the Crimean Bridge, holds strategic importance because it links the Russian mainland to Crimea. In October 2022, the nearly 12-mile road and rail bridge was damaged by an explosion from an improvised explosive device. The bridge was attacked again in July 2023 when two explosions closed at least one section of the road bridge.

Due to the bridge's role in delivering supplies to Moscow's military in southern Ukraine, Kyiv has pledged future strikes on the structure as it continues efforts to recapture the peninsula, which Russia invaded and annexed in 2014.

According to the British MOD, the installation of the barges near the bridge began on May 10 and ended on May 22.

"These barges were placed by Russian forces in an attempt to defend the bridge and shipping channel, reducing the angles of approach for Ukrainian Unmanned Surface Vehicles (USV)," the MOD assessment, which was posted on X (formerly Twitter), said.

The intelligence report added that previous barriers installed in the area "have been damaged by storms, reducing their effectiveness.

Newsweek has reached out to the Russian Ministry of Defense via email for comment.

The MOD previously reported in October 2023 that the Kerch Bridge had been exposed as vulnerable by the two prior attacks.

"The Crimean bridge will remain a vital link in sustaining Russia's occupation of Crimea and its forces in southern Ukraine," the MOD wrote at the time. "However, it is now almost certainly a significant security burden requiring multi-domain protection, including the use of air defence systems and crews who would otherwise be deployed elsewhere."

The assessment added that Russian officials' "confidence in their ability to protect this large and vulnerable structure will continue to be threatened by the ingenuity of Ukraine's military and security services."

Russia has also reportedly used barges to protect sites elsewhere. On March 31, the MOD said Russia stationed four barges to guard the entrance to its Black Sea Fleet base at the port of Novorossiysk. Russia has relocated many of its naval vessels to Novorossiysk following strikes by the Ukrainian military on the Black Sea Fleet's base at the Crimean city of Sevastopol.

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