Fri Sep 20 13:28:49 UTC 2024: ## Ukraine Poised to Reclaim Crimea, Top US General Predicts, Targeting Kerch Bridge

**Washington, D.C. -** A top US general has predicted that Ukraine will launch a major offensive to retake Crimea this year, targeting the Kerch Strait bridge as its primary objective. General Ben Hodges, former head of US forces in Europe, told Al Jazeera that the US should fully support Ukraine’s efforts to liberate the peninsula, which Russia illegally annexed in 2014.

“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 Hodges said. He further predicted that Ukraine will successfully destroy the Kerch Bridge, Russia’s only land connection to Crimea.

The Kerch Bridge has become crucial for supplying Russian forces in southern Ukraine, and its destruction would significantly hamper Russia’s military operations in the region. While acknowledging the bridge’s robust defenses, General Hodges believes that Ukraine will employ a multi-phased strategy to destroy it, likely involving a large amount of explosives.

The timing of such an operation remains uncertain, but General Hodges believes it will coincide with a moment that maximizes its impact on the broader war effort, potentially influencing the US presidential election in November.

While some experts, including Colonel Demetries Andrew Grimes, suggest Ukraine may be leaving a path open for Russian evacuation, other analysts highlight the growing Crimean resistance movement, which has already inflicted significant damage on Russian military infrastructure on the peninsula.

The Ukrainian government has consistently maintained its claim to Crimea and has received widespread international support for its position. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen recently stated unequivocally, “It is clear: Crimea and Sevastopol are Ukraine.”

This potential offensive underscores the growing pressure on Russia to relinquish its control over Crimea. The outcome of this battle could significantly shape the future of the war and the long-term security of Ukraine.

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