22 September 2024
(Photo collage: investigator.org.ua)
On the island of Tuzla, near the Kerch Bridge, Russians are installing metal towers with platforms on which they are placing air defense systems to protect the illegally built bridge across the Kerch Strait.
Two such towers with Pantsir-S1M anti-aircraft missile and gun systems were discovered by the Center for Investigative Journalism. They also established a reconnaissance site where these and other structures are stored.
The Pantsir-S1M is an export version of the air defense system with an armored cabin mounted on a KamAZ-53958 chassis painted in desert camouflage. The model has an increased range and altitude of air targets. This air defense system can be mounted on tracked and wheeled chassis, as well as installed permanently, creating a 15 km high security dome with a 20 km radius over the facility. In addition, the Pantsir can be combined into groups, increasing the radius of the protective coverage.
"Judging by the publicly available photos and videos, within a week the occupiers installed two metal towers on both sides of the bridge on the section of the Tuzla Island. Visually, their height is 30 to 35 meters above sea level," the Crisis Group's research says.
On top of each tower, the journalists note, the Russians have placed the Pantsir-S1M, or rather, the warheads themselves. For the first time, the Crisis Group spotted the Pantsir-S1M on the Kerch Bridge in early September. The Crisis Group believes that the Russians will continue to install such towers along the bridge, as a dozen similar transformer sections were spotted on the construction site from the Kerch side.
Photo collage: investigator.org.ua
Earlier, theATES guerrilla movement reported that Russians are installing two rows of old barges along the Kerch bridge that are no longer in use, and are also erecting a new fence around the perimeter. Prior to that, the enemy was moving Russian air defense systems from Crimea closer to the Crimean bridge, but on Russian territory. The convoy was accompanied by military vehicles.
According to the guerrillas, this indicates that Russia's defense system is facing serious problems related to the insecurity of certain areas, such as the Kursk region.
In addition, Kirill Budanov, the head of the GUR , said that from a military point of view , it is much easier to recapture Crimea than Donbas, because there are two points of entry into Crimea - from the Russian side and from ours: The Crimean bridge and the land isthmus.
Олеся Ланцман
Aug. 12, 2026
A priest and a female lawmaker from Kerch were transporting drones and SUVs to the occupiers