Putin hit by NEW Ukraine attack as Russian bridge targeted with explosives in Kyiv offensive

No casualties have been reported, with Russia stating traffic has been temporarily suspended on the bridge.

Ukraine's SBU security service said: "Previously, we hit the Crimean Bridge twice, in 2022 and 2023. So today we continued this tradition underwater," adding the operation had been "prepared for months".

The SBU stated it used 1,100kg (2,420lbs) of explosives on the pillars of the bridge.

Russian authorities said on Telegram that road traffic on the bridge linking Russia and the Crimean peninsula has been halted.

The bridge has been a key target for Putin, with it being supported by concrete stilts and consisting of a separate roadway and railway.

It comes after seven people were killed and 113 injured after two bridges collapsed in Russia over the weekend.

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Russian investigators have accused Ukraine of blowing up the railway bridges, stating Kyiv orchestrated "acts of terrorism" by targeting civilians.

A senior Russian senator said blowing up the bridge and derailing the train indicated Ukraine "has turned into a terrorist enclave".

Ukraine is yet to comment on the matter.

Kyiv also destroyed 41 Russian aircraft across five airfields in a "genius" 18-month mission codenamed "Spider's Web".

The attack occurred as Ukraine launched 117 first-person-view kamikaze drones into Russian territory, with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky claiming "34 per cent of the strategic cruise missile carriers stationed at air bases were hit".

The operation targeted five airfields stretching from northern Russia down to Siberia, positioned a safe 2,500 miles from Ukraine.

Vladimir Putin is set to dismiss his intelligence chiefs following the catastrophic security breach, which led to the attack.

Footage shows the damage inflicted by the drones on the Russian aircraft.

Footage shows the damage from the Ukrainian drone strike

The attack on the bridge in Crimea came just a day after peace talks between Ukrainian and Russian delegates in Istanbul, with little progress being made.

Ukraine says Moscow is stalling the peace talks as Andriy Yermak, chief of staff to Zelensky, plans on "strengthening sanctions on Russia".

Yermak said on Telegram: "We will actively promote issues that are important for Ukraine. Our agenda is rather comprehensive.

"We plan to talk about defence support and the situation on the battlefield, strengthening sanctions against Russia."