KYIV (Agencies): Russia has reportedly deployed its newly formed S-500 air defense regiment to bolster the defense of the strategically vital Kerch Bridge, which links the Russian mainland to the Crimean Peninsula in the Black Sea.
The move was reported by the Ukrainian media outlet Kyiv Post, citing a military blogger known as Sprinter Observer.
The Kerch Bridge, which facilitates the movement of military supplies and civilian goods, holds considerable importance for Russia, not just in practical terms but also as a symbol of President Vladimir Putin’s assertion of power over Crimea.
The Kremlin has consistently viewed the bridge as a key element of its territorial integrity, and its defense has become a high priority.
Ukraine, on the other hand, has long considered the bridge a prime target. Kyiv’s strategy aims to disrupt Russian military supply lines and diminish the Kremlin’s ability to control Crimea.
Ukrainian officials have also highlighted the symbolic significance of striking the bridge to embarrass Putin, a view numerous military and political figures in Kyiv have echoed.
According to a report on January 8, the entire S-500 regiment has now been assigned to augment the defense of the Kerch Bridge. However, the EurAsian Times cannot independently verify these claims.
This follows the establishment of Russia’s first S-500 Prometheus-equipped air defense regiment, announced by Russia’s Chief of the General Staff, Valery Gerasimov, on December 18.