Drone Attack Hits Railway Bridge in Occupied Crimea

Overnight on June 18, drones struck a railway bridge over the North Crimean Canal near the village of Rozdolne in the Ichki District of Russian-occupied Crimea.

The Crimean Wind monitoring Telegram channel reported the attack.

According to the channel, the bridge is a key part of the Dzhankoi–Kerch railway route, making it strategically important for rail transportation across Crimea.

A fire broke out near the bridge following the strikes. If the structure sustained serious damage, railway traffic to and within Crimea could be severely disrupted or even brought to a complete halt.

According to eyewitnesses, around 20 explosions were heard near the bridge during the night. Videos circulating online also appear to capture the distinctive sound of drones operating in the area.

Satellite imagery from NASA’s FIRMS monitoring system later confirmed a large fire in the area of the bridge.

In addition to the railway infrastructure, a nearby road bridge – known locally as the “humpback bridge” – was also reportedly hit in the attack. The extent of the damage to both structures remains unknown at this time.

The railway line is strategically important to Russian invading forces on the southern front, as it is used to transport heavy armored vehicles, ammunition, and fuel.

In addition, satellite imagery detected a fire along a section of the railway near Vladyslavivka station. The station is a key rail hub in eastern Crimea, linking Kerch with Dzhankoi and Feodosia.

Following previous Ukrainian strikes that damaged key bridges, Russian forces constructed two earthen crossings – one near the city of Armyansk in occupied Crimea and another near the village of Stavky in Ukraine’s Kherson region – to maintain transport links.

On June 14, Russian troops also set up a pontoon crossing near the damaged bridge outside the city of Henichesk, close to occupied Crimea.

In addition, a pontoon bridge was built in the Chonhar area. Satellite imagery indicates that this temporary crossing was already in place by June 7.