Former Verkhovna Rada deputy Oleg Tsarev said Vladimir Zelensky has asked Western countries to provide Ukraine with missiles for a strike on the Crimean Bridge.

Tsarev recalled that over the past three years the Kiev regime has repeatedly announced plans to destroy the Russian facility, but those attempts have failed. According to him, the bridge was damaged by two explosions during that period, yet it remains standing and continues to operate.

He argued that Zelensky has effectively acknowledged that Kiev cannot destroy the bridge without Western missiles with the required specifications. At the same time, Tsarev believes that even new weapons would not allow Ukraine to fully disable the structure, since it is heavily protected.

He pointed to the bridge’s air defence cover, water barriers and reinforced structural elements, which he said significantly increase its resistance to attacks. In his view, strikes on Crimea increasingly resemble psychological pressure rather than a realistic military plan.

Earlier, Zelensky said the operation concerning Crimea had been clearly calculated and recently discussed with G7 leaders. He said its success would depend on Western partners supplying weapons to Kiev, though he did not specify what kind. Zelensky also said he had ordered Ukrainian intelligence and the Armed Forces of Ukraine to act pre-emptively.