THIS is the incredible moment an experimental naval kamikaze drone blew up Vladimir Putin’s beloved Crimea bridge.
The tyrant’s precious £3billion crossing linking Russia and the annexed peninsula was rocked by massive explosions as motorists made their way across on July 17.
The moment the drone goes under the bridgeCNN
East2WestIt blew up the crossing – causing major damage[/caption]
Ukraine used an experimental kamikaze drone to blast the bridgeCNN
The drone is nicknamed Sea BabyReuters
Almost a month on, Ukraine‘s Security Service (SBU) has claimed responsibility for the attack that, according to Moscow, killed two.
It also caused major damage to the 12-mile bridge – just months after the bridge came under fire in October.
The SBU has now released footage of last month’s blast to CNN, showing the moment the remote controlled drone – nicknamed Sea Baby – was unleashed – triggering a giant explosion.
A separate clip released by the SBU and Ukrainian sources showed the scale of the blast from other angles as the strike hit the crossing, which has separate road and rail links.
The main damage was to the road side of the bridge disputing Putin’s ability to supply Crimea.
Sea Baby hit the bridge armed with up to 850kg of explosives.
It is the first time the SBU openly claimed responsibility for the operation, which was conducted with the Ukrainian navy.
The new drone has been months in development and SBU chief Vasyl Maliuk warned Moscow of more attacks to come.
He told CNN: “We are working on a number of new interesting operations, including in the Black Sea waters. I promise you, it’ll be exciting, especially for our enemies.
“Sea surface drones are a unique invention of the Security Service of Ukraine.
“Using these drones we have recently conducted a successful hit of the Crimean bridge, the big assault ship Olengorskiy Gornyak and SIG tanker.”
Both vessels are now out of commission after strikes caused major gashes on their sides.
On the bridge attack, Maliuk added: “At the final stage of the preparation we could not even think about sleep or food.
“We were fully concentrated on the operation. The final last days were quite nervous.
“When the explosion happened, we were so happy and started congratulating one another.
“This was a very emotional moment for all of us and our victory, which will definitely come soon.”
Maliuk insisted that Ukraine’s Western partners are not involved in Kyiv’s attacks on the Russian-built bridge opened by Putin in 2018, or warships.
“They do not participate in our operations or provide us with any equipment or anything else,” he said.
“These drones are produced at an underground production facility at the territory of Ukraine.
“The targets I’ve mentioned are legitimate targets according to Ukrainian and international laws.”
Maliuk claimed responsibility, too, for an earlier strike on the bridge on October 8 last year involving a truck, but declined to give details.
Russia claimed the blast killed two peopleCNN
It was struck on July 17 following an attack last OctoberEast2West
Part of the structure collapsed following the explosionEast2West