New Delhi, June 3 -- Ukraine on Tuesday (June 3) claimed responsibility for an underwater explosion that damaged the Kerch Bridge, a vital artery linking Russia to the annexed Crimean Peninsula. The Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) described the operation as a "unique special operation," marking the third time Ukraine has struck the bridge since the start of Russia's full-scale invasion in 2022.

The blast, which detonated more than 1,000 kilograms of explosives attached to an underwater pillar, sent a plume of water and debris skyward in dramatic video footage released by Ukrainian officials. While the full extent of the damage remains unclear, Russian authorities temporarily closed the bridge for about four hours before resuming traffi...