AFU Colonel Speaks About Weapon For Destruction Of Crimean Bridge

Ukrainian forces are already "examining” the target.

The Crimean Bridge was again under attack over the weekend. Will there be more attacks?

Journalists of Charter97.org asked Ukrainian military analyst, reserve colonel of the Armed Forces of Ukraine Petro Chernik about this:

– There is no doubt, the Crimean Bridge must go under water. They are examining the target now. We are studying what means and what distances are better for the destruction of the bridge.

We understand that the Crimean Bridge provides 90% of supplies for the Crimean and the whole Southern enemy bridgeheads, especially through the railway. The motor way is not used very much. After all, no one sane would carry a large amount of artillery ammunition by trucks.

A truck can take a maximum of 60 shells of 152 mm caliber or 30 shells for the BM-21 Grad on board. At the same time, one railway car, which weighs up to 50 tons, can take hundreds of shells to the Grad missile systems. One train can consist of 30-50 cars. That's a lot

The Russians have been delivering a wide variety of ammunition to the Crimean peninsula for 1.5 years. Therefore, cutting this logistical artery is extremely important for Ukraine. But there is one thing.

– What are you talking about?

– Occupied Crimea and the Crimean Bridge are the most protected territories of the Russian Federation in terms of air defence. The air defence density is greater than over Moscow there. After all, the Crimean Bridge is not only a logistical artery but also Putin's personal project. He loves it very much, and he has invested billions of dollars there. Therefore, they will be really protecting it and fighting for it.

– Why haven't there been massive attacks on the Crimean Bridge so far?

– As I said, heavily shielded. We don't have too many Storm Shadow/SCALP missiles, so we have to work out a way of attacking so that the goal will be achieved sooner or later. Since the one-bridge span destruction is good, it delays the enemy's supplies, but this does not solve the problem.

– What weapon can destroy the bridge?

– The length of the bridge is 18 kilometres. It is necessary to put several tens of meters under water, or better, hundreds. It is unlikely that this will be done by surface or underwater means. After all, the Russians built a barrier, such as metal nets and tanks with welded parts on top to prevent surface drones from jumping over this tank. Therefore, it is unlikely that it will be possible to overcome all this.

But a strong missile salvo can solve this problem. It will be done when it becomes clear to us how all this works. I note that the Storm Shadow missiles are quite expensive, we understand that the guarantee of reaching the target should be 90-100%.

But even current pinpoint strikes are good. This disorganizes and strains the enemy, poses moral tension causing mistakes. Mistakes mean failures. Even the human factor, even low-quality repair of the bridge, is also good.

– General Ben Hodges believes that Ukraine will liberate Donbas and win the war when it isolates Crimea. Do you share this opinion?

– I do not quite agree. Donbas is directly connected to the Russian Federation. The main supplies come from there, there is a railway and a fairly large network of roads. Anyone who has studied military history at least a little knows that no one has ever taken Donbas head-on. Even the genius of defence manoeuvres, German Field Marshal Erich von Manstein, did not dare to build defensive ramparts there during the Second World War.

Therefore, the most probable logic of the fight for Donbas is hundreds of thousands of artillery salvos and heavy long-range missiles plus aviation with various bombs, but, unfortunately, aviation is still quite far away.

I emphasize, Crimea can be liberated with the help of long-range missiles and aircraft.