FancyCat

Pedestrian bridge. 0.5 miles away from the Presidential Palace and other government buildings. Inaccurate missile or terror attack?

How notable Ukraine attacks a bridge in the dead of night, and Russia attacks in the light of day. And night, right into residential buildings where people sleep.

They took the wrong lessons from Chechnya and Syria.

Be advised, pro-Russians are claiming the recent videos are atrocities committed by Ukrainians. WARNING, link below is a SA survivor recounting her ordeal being tortured by FSB in Izyum. Interestingly, the Russian appointed mayor of Izyum was implicated. We don't hear too much (or at least I don't) about occupation officials being active participants in war crimes, so it was interesting to see this mayor mentioned. https://wapo.st/3SUfQLR

Ukraine continues to emphasize respect for international humanitarian law. Bonus points to Ukraine for emphasizing that the Russian elite seek to return to their Western properties and fun.

I wouldn’t say stunt, but I didn’t know it had two lines so good to know.

If I implied in "referencing the past" was to point out a past stances that became incorrect, my apologies I wasn't and did not intend that, and I don't think there is anything wrong in what was considered in the past. It was only to marvel at how Ukraine has done well (what you just stated, I agree with all of it entirely), how Russia's aura has dimmed, and ponder about how the course of the war will go with this trend.

Saki airbase. The bridge bombing. the potential loss of Crimea. A big reason why Putin may not have wanted to mobilize, that we see clearly now, despite all the propaganda, the red lines, the rhetoric, the Russian people don't want to fight in Ukraine, and as much as the RU nats are frothing at the mouth right now, the Russian people, the good majority don't care about retaining the Donbas, or denazificating Ukraine (certainly not enough to die, and if death by a bullet is not worth it, neither is nuclear warfare), and I doubt enlistment or conscription is going to tick up due to this bridge bombing, so I'm going to suggest that Crimea will largely turn out the same, Russians won't care enough to die for Crimea, and one of the central tenets of the red line on Crimea, is that the loss of Crimea represents a threat to the Russian nation and people and that will motivate them to declare "full war" or nuclear weapons use" or etc. That is looking brittle. Maybe a threat to Putin's rule and life. (tho i doubt that as well)

Western and Russian opposition journalists have noted nothing out of the ordinary in Moscow, its probably some sort of psyop, probably western focused to emphasize Russian loss of control.

I have seen comments noting that Ukraine continues to overstep Russian red lines, with seemingly little pushback. Even if the bridge reopens without a issue, aside from all the symbolism and other effects mentioned, it leaves the Russian state walking away from prior comments on red lines. Note very little word by Putin and co warning of nuclear retaliation or other escalation for attacking the bridge. If it was a true red line, warnings would be louder. A victory still for Ukraine even if their goal had been to destroy Russian logistics, the red line has again shifted, if the bridge is attacked and destroyed in the future, Russian use of escalation is weakened, both Ukraine and the west will be encouraged by this to keep pushing Russia. I want to bring up the sentiments of this thread, in how Ukraine has managed to bit by bit, shift our thinking in how Ukraine will operate, what Ukraine's capabilities are, as well as how Russia has lost initiative in the sentiments of the thread, and reflect that in the same manner as how time and Ukraine is changing how we think, the world is having the same done to it, where the Russian reality is ending and the Ukrainian reality is coming into focus. I recall stances like suggesting Ukraine would be better served refraining from attacking Crimea, or the Crimean bridge, either for escalation reasons, for operational reasons, it would be better to utilize resources closer to the front, etc. In the same way, I recall worry about Ukraine targeting inside Russia, targeting Russian infrastructure, thinking of wider offensives, the list goes on, as time has gone on, Ukraine is step by step illustrating its ability and resolve, and is not only shifting Russia's red lines, but our own perception of Ukraine and Russia. The reason why I bring this up, (considering its pretty obvious, our thinking of Ukraine is framed by what Ukraine does), is to emphasize a clear positive movement in favor of Ukraine obtaining "total victory", of Ukraine moving both operationally in a military sense, as well as mentally, to prep the world for a day where Ukraine takes over Crimea. I know, maybe I am just wrong. what does a car bomb (or missile. or underwater SOF team. or....boat) compare to invading a island? this car bomb could have cut the only supply line to Crimea. this supply line should not have had this occur, and its viability as a loss in the future has just skyrocketed. this should not have happened, Russia should be able to protect this vital line, and Ukraine's ability to target it, i think one could stay most of us considered impossible a few months ago. Just like Saki. Just like two offensive actions occurring simultaneously. Or a massive long term psyop to turn Kherson into a trap. With each succeeding action Ukraine undertakes to undermine Crimea's defenses, Russia is losing more and more of the red line, and the mental fear that it represents, that Russia needs to enforce if it wants to prevent the line being tested via the liberation of the island.

constant drumbeating of respect for IHL continuing.

What a symbol.

Shame. Anyone want to give more missiles to Ukraine? I mean the red line is broken now....

So we have a repair train on site and traffic flowing on the remaining span. While I won't doubt the Russian engineering experts, you must be brave to drive right now mere hours after the explosion. A shame, was hoping the bridge would be down for longer. Tho it would be ironic if it went down again due to Russian disregard for safety again.

Decent point, if they could have gotten explosives into a truck and a remote detonator, why not try and get the same onto the rail cars? The rail bridge is the primary objective to knock down, not the road.

I do want to note that when reviewing whether it would be easier to retake Crimea vs pre-2022 occupied Ukraine, the odds ticked slightly in favor of Crimea today. Certainly Russia can probably supply Donetsk easier than Crimea if the bridge is down.

Video close up of the end tail of the railcars burning. Fire department arrived.

Hmm I do hope the rail bridge is damaged enough, not sure if all the fuel cars ignited. Still good the road bridge is damaged but the rail bridge is the essential thing. If it was the truck, why not the left lane? Closer to the rail bridge?

I see people saying explosives under the bridge, can SOF via underwater or boat get close enough to attach the explosives and enough in the right places? I wonder if those USVs got used?

Missile?