KYIV, Ukraine — Tensions escalated sharply in the ongoing war between Ukraine and Russia on Monday as Kyiv claimed responsibility for a fresh explosive attack on the strategically vital Kerch Bridge, while a close ally of Russian President Vladimir Putin threatened “inevitable retribution” following Ukrainian drone raids targeting Russian bombers.
The latest developments come amid intensified aerial assaults from both sides and mounting civilian casualties. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy issued a scathing condemnation of Moscow following a deadly strike on the northeastern city of Sumy, calling it a deliberate assault on innocent people.
Ukraine’s security services said they carried out a “successful” underwater drone strike on the Kerch Bridge, which links mainland Russia to the occupied Crimean Peninsula. While Kyiv did not provide specifics, the bridge—often used by Russian military convoys—has been the target of multiple attacks since Moscow’s full-scale invasion began.
Ukrainian officials framed the strike as part of a broader effort to disrupt Russian logistics and military resupply lines in Crimea, a region annexed by Russia in 2014 and central to the Kremlin’s war operations.
The Kremlin has yet to confirm damage to the structure, but Russian state media acknowledged “security incidents” in the area, prompting increased patrols and partial traffic restrictions on the bridge.
In response to the drone raids and bridge strike, a senior Putin ally warned that “retribution is inevitable,” signaling a possible intensification of Russian attacks on Ukrainian territory. The rhetoric echoes earlier threats made by Moscow after high-profile assaults on its military infrastructure, including airbases deep inside Russia.
Ukrainian drone operations have increasingly penetrated into Russian territory in recent weeks, reportedly targeting long-range bomber bases used to launch missile attacks on Ukrainian cities.
Speaking Monday, President Zelenskyy denounced a deadly Russian strike on the city of Sumy that killed at least three civilians and injured 25 others, including three children. The casualty count was updated from two earlier in the day.
Describing the bombardment as a “savage strike” and a “fully deliberate attack on civilians,” Zelenskyy shared details from the scene, including an artillery shell that pierced the ninth floor of an apartment building but failed to detonate.
“Many people have been wounded. A rescue operation is underway,” Zelenskyy said in a video address. “That alone says everything one needs to know about Russia’s so-called ‘desire’ to end this war.”
The Ukrainian president again called for greater international pressure on Moscow, including tougher sanctions and diplomatic isolation. “It is obvious: without global pressure – without decisive actions from the United States, Europe, and everyone in the world who has the power – Putin will not agree even to a ceasefire,” he warned.
The renewed focus on critical infrastructure and intensified strikes comes as Ukraine continues to press Western allies for more weapons, sanctions enforcement, and humanitarian aid. With no end in sight to the conflict, the destruction of the Kerch Bridge, if confirmed, would mark another symbolic and strategic blow to Moscow’s grip on Crimea.
Meanwhile, humanitarian concerns continue to rise as more Ukrainian cities face attacks. Zelenskyy’s appeal for global solidarity and tougher penalties on Russia underscores Kyiv’s growing impatience with what it sees as insufficient international resolve.
