Roman Svitan: Crimean Bridge Can Be Completely Disabled

The Armed Forces of Ukraine have all the technical capabilities to do this.

On the night of Monday, July 17, two explosions thundered on the Crimean Bridge. As a result, one span collapsed and another one came off the pillar after at least one hit.

Charter97.org asked pilot-instructor and AFU reserve colonel Roman Svitan about possible weapons used for the strike against the Crimean Bridge:

– These are the same unmanned surface "gliders", gliding drones, which attacked Sevastopol Bay last year on October 29. Several Russian vessels were damaged then. The Security Service of Ukraine and the Navy put them on a mass production line.

I will say that these drones dealt several strikes last year. One drone can carry 100-200 kg of explosives.

So in the case of the Crimean Bridge, the surface “gliders” came under the spans and were blown up. This is the standard operational mode for this kind of combat vessel. Most likely, there were two of them, they are launched in pairs.

– Some media sources write that one of the bridge pillars may be damaged. Is it really possible?

– No, the pillar is most likely safe. The fact is that there was an explosion above water, without “drilling”. You need to either drill in and undermine it (but this is extremely complicated from the engineering point of view), or deliver a powerful blow to the pillar from above with an aerial bomb or missile, at least weighing up to half a ton or even a ton in order to damage the pillar of the bridge. It can be damaged only like that, but also not for sure.

Definitely, such a surface explosion will not damage the bridge pillar, but the blast wave can demolish the span, so it happened. That is, the blast wave raises the span and then throws it a little to the side. After such a blow, it is no longer possible to put it in place, it is necessary to change the entire span due to structural damage. At least one. Perhaps even the one that was nearby.

– How long will it take to restore the bridge?

– Only manufacturing and installation can take 3-4 months. Also, I repeat, it is not clear what happened to the second span.

– Does Ukraine have the technical ability to completely destroy the Crimean Bridge?

– To destroy the bridge completely, you need to approach all the pillars. This will be done after the liberation of Crimea. When the decision on destruction is made, a whole engineering operation will be carried out to undermine the pillars at the substructure of the bridge. This definitely will not happen now.

Ukraine, of course, has all the technical capabilities to disable the Crimean Bridge completely. After all, there is one more span and a railway track.

For example, you can strike drones on a moving train with ammunition, fuel or equipment. If you target the train, then it will destroy the railway span.

The second pillar can be damaged in the same way or by a missile strike, for example.