Kiev - Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky has labeled the Crimean Bridge as a legitimate military target following a recent attack that tragically resulted in the deaths of two civilians. Zelensky insists that the bridge, connecting the peninsula to mainland Russia over the Kerch Strait, is not civilian infrastructure but rather a crucial logistical route used for Russia's "militarization" of Crimea. He firmly believes that Kiev has the right to target the bridge using any necessary means.

During the Aspen Security Forum in Washington, DC, Zelensky was asked by CNN's Fareed Zakaria whether destroying the bridge entirely was a short-term objective for Kiev. In response, Zelensky stated that from their perspective, the bridge is an enemy facility built outside international laws and norms, making it a legitimate target. He emphasized that any target contributing to war rather than peace must be neutralized.

Zelensky further expressed that Kiev's ultimate objective is to reclaim all of Crimea as it is their sovereign territory. However, he avoided addressing the potential challenges and outcomes of the ongoing counteroffensive, which has shown limited success so far.

Government sources cited by Ukrainian media outlets confirmed that the attack on the bridge was launched by Kiev. The security service (SBU), allegedly involved in coordinating the operation with the Ukrainian military, stated that they would provide further details after the conflict with Russia concludes.

Crimea's separation from Ukraine occurred after the 2014 Maidan coup, which led to the ousting of democratically elected President Viktor Yanukovich. Following the coup, Crimea joined Russia through a referendum, with a majority of the population supporting reunification. Since then, regaining control of Crimea from Russia has been a prominent topic among Ukrainian officials.