Grapevine

By Al Jazeera
Sep 20, 2024

As Russia’s war escalates, will Ukraine down the Kerch Bridge in Crimea?

Russia is already unable to use Crimea as a military staging ground, and Ukraine will soon destroy it as a supply line, top US general predicts.

Russia’s war with Ukraine started when it seized Crimea in February 2014, and who ends up in possession of Crimea remains one of the biggest sticking points in ending the war.

So far, Ukraine has been unable to take Crimea back by force, and Russia has been unable to defend it effectively as a base of operations.

A United States general told Al Jazeera that Ukraine is likely to launch a major new campaign to win back Crimea this year and says Washington should fully support it.

“We could be 100 percent clear to the Ukrainians and the Russians that we are 100 percent in favour of them retaking Crimea however they do it,” General Ben Hodges said.