Ukraine Blows Up the Last of the Floating "Kerch Bridge" Ferries ... The "Slaviyanin"

Attribution ... The "Slaviyanin" in better times, Ukraine Energy Ministry

Ever since the Ukrainians managed to essentially render useless the rail section of the illegal Kerch Strait bridge, the Russians quickly adapted by pressing into service three huge ferry boats, essentially a “floating Kerch Bridge”  to shuttle heavy logistical supplies between mainland Russia and Crimea.

Of course the Ukrainians were not going to just sit and watch this go on unmolested.  They have been steadily attacking these heavy Russian ferries at opportune times with drones and cruise missiles and have already managed to render hors de combat two out of the three this year.  Last night the Ukrainians blew up the last of the three … the “Slaviyanin” while it was docked at the port of Kavkaz in Russian Krasnodar Krai.

Unluckyhttps://t.co/WwVBss7C5E pic.twitter.com/a2obhezMj0

— Def Mon (@DefMon3) July 23, 2024

More here: 

maritime-executive.com/…

This is a major blow to the Russian logistics effort to supply not only Crimea but also their troops farther afield in Ukraine.  Take a look at the cargo on the deck of the “Slaviyanin” in the caption photo.  It looks to be heavy fuel tanks that under normal circumstances would have been transported by rail.  But since the Russians are keeping fuel transport off the Kerch Bridge and other major arteries, maritime ferries have become the substitute. Now Ukraine has skillfully taken that option away. 

The Russians may quickly adapt and press other ferries from elsewhere into service but Ukraine has now served notice … “ain’t no where safe”.

SLAVA UKRAINI!