Ukraine claims responsibility for new attack on key Crimea bridge

A Ukrainian security official has claimed Kyiv's responsibility for an attack on the bridge linking the annexed Crimean peninsula to the Russian mainland - a vital supply line for Russia's war effort in Ukraine and a personal project for President Vladimir Putin.

The nearly 12-mile crossing, also known as the Kerch Bridge, is the longest in Europe and holds huge strategic and symbolic importance for Moscow. Monday's attack on the bridge was the second since Russia launched its invasion of Ukraine, after a fuel tanker exploded while crossing it in October.

A source in Ukraine's Security Service (SBU) told CNN this attack was a joint operation of the SBU and Ukraine's naval forces. The source spoke on condition of anonymity because they had not received authorization to speak on the record.

Ukraine's minister for digital transformation later said that the bridge was struck by "naval drones."

"Today the Crimean bridge was blown up by naval drones," Mykhailo Fedorov said on Telegram on Monday "It is better to act, not to reveal photos of our own production facilities and to supply the defense forces," Fedorov said.

Two people were killed and their daughter wounded in the attack, according to Russian-appointed officials.

Two strikes were reportedly carried out around 3 a.m. local time Monday (8 p.m. ET Sunday), damaging part of the bridge, according to Telegram channel Grey Zone, which supports the Wagner mercenary group led by Yevgeny Prigozhin.