Ukraine: quietly, with decoy missiles, kyiv prepares the destruction of the Crimean bridge

It’s no mystery to anyone: the Crimean Bridge, also called the Kerch Bridge after the strait it spans, is one of kyiv’s highest priority targets. Pride of Vladimir Putin, attaching Crimea occupied since 2014 to mainland Russia and therefore materializing this brutal annexation, the building is crucial for the Kremlin’s military operations in the peninsula, and for the supply of the populations who have now taken up residence there – or who spend a very curious vacation there.

The Crimean bridge has already been hit twice, once with a truck packed with explosives. It was heavily damaged but held on and remained in operation, protected as best it could by the Kremlin, notably by sinking ships to create a protective barrier, or by increasing the presence of combat dolphins. This might not be enough.

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ADM-160 MALD decoy missiles to test bridge defenses

Because the definitive destruction of the Kerch bridge, the cutting of this vital link between continental Russia and occupied Crimea, is however and undoubtedly only a question of time. As reported by Newsweek or the pro-Russian Telegram channel Rybar, kyiv is once again eyeing the structure very closely.

Ukraine would have started this preparatory work before a real strike with a particular tool, the ADM-160 MALD missiles, of American design. These machines, of which the “MALD” means “Miniature Air-Launched Decoy”are decoy missiles launched from an aircraft, and intended to make opposing defenses believe in the presence of an enemy aircraft or projectile.

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The ADM-160 MALD, which has already been used by Ukraine since the start of the war, is therefore ideal for studying in detail the presence of radars, electronic jamming systems, anti-aircraft defense batteries near a prime target. Then to plan an attack with real missiles.

“Yesterday was notable because alarms sounded several times in the southern territories of Russia, either because the takeoff of tactical aircraft had been detected or because unidentified objects had appeared on the systems defense”wrote Rybar.

“The exact reason remains unclear, is he being pursued. But generally, when this happens, it is due to the launch of decoy missiles. And it was probably to them that the air defense stations were responding.”

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ATACMS or “Long Neptunes”: for kyiv, the choice of weapons

With what projectiles could kyiv target the Kerch Bridge? These will not be the famous Taurus, these “bunker buster” (“bunker breaks”) and cousins ​​of the formidable Storm Shadow / SCALP-EG that Germany and Olaf Scholz refuse again and again, despite growing pressures including internally, to supply to kyiv.

These could be domestically designed or modified weapons. We know in particular that Ukraine is actively working to transform its Neptune missile, famous for having sunk the Moskva as told by Korii. in April 2022, to make it a long-range projectile dedicated to ground targets.

Above all, we know that the United States, after very long hesitation on the part of the Biden administration, has finally decided to deliver to kyiv the longest-range version of the MGM-140 ATACMS missiles. And this in the greatest secrecy, so as not to offer Moscow the possibility of moving its assets before it is too late.

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Ravaging, destroying a number of combat helicopters and several valuable (and expensive) S-300 or S-400 anti-aircraft defense systems, an attack on the Djankoi or Dzhankoi airfield, in the depths of occupied Crimea, has already had place with these missiles discreetly sent by Washington. A first trial run, before the Kerch bridge is targeted?