The Kerch bridge, connecting mainland Russia to the Crimean peninsula, has been a major source of tension in the region since Russia illegally annexed Crimea in 2014. For the past five years, the bridge has been a symbol of Russian occupation and a reminder of the injustice of Moscow’s actions. Now, finally, there is hope that the bridge can be destroyed, and the Russian occupation of Crimea could be brought to an end.
General Ben Hodges, former commander of US forces in Europe, has proposed a strategy to achieve this. He suggests that Ukraine first isolate the peninsula by precision strikes against the two land routes connecting it with Russian territory; the Kerch bridge and the corridor that runs along the Azov sea. The Ukrainian forces could then launch a ground offensive along the Perekop Isthmus and into Crimea, reducing Russian air, ground and naval forces in the peninsula by precision strike and bombardment.
The destruction of the Kerch bridge would be a major blow for Russian morale. In the absence of decisive battlefield success elsewhere, it would represent a defeat for Moscow that it could not disguise and could even lead to collapse of Russian forces in the field and to Putin’s downfall.
However, this operation would demand a huge level of support from the West, including many more tanks than have been promised, much larger quantities of ammunition, as well as long-range missile systems. This requires a significant push from European leaders, who are currently wavering on their support of Ukraine.
If successful, the destruction of the Kerch bridge could finally bring an end to the Russian occupation of Crimea. It could provide a much needed boost to Ukrainian morale, and could send a strong message to the Kremlin that the West will not tolerate the violation of international law.
But for this to happen, the West needs to be willing to provide the resources and commitment necessary for the operation to succeed. Without this, the prospects for total Russian collapse remain slim, and the chances of a lasting peace in the region remain distant.
