Revealed: The moment Ukrainian ‘Sea Baby’ experimental kamikaze drone hit Putin’s £3

The moment a Ukrainian experimental kamikaze drone hit Vladimir Putin‘s £3 billion bridge linking Russia to Crimea and triggered a huge explosion has been revealed for the first time.

Ukrainian secret service agency SBU today shared a video of the audacious attack by the ‘Sea Baby’ drone which saw huge explosions rip through the 12-mile crossing last month.

The footage, seen by CNN, shows the naval kamikaze drone armed with up to 850kg of explosives sailing towards the bridge under the cover of darkness before it smashed into the crossing, sending debris flying through the air.

Separate footage footage released by the SBU and Ukrainian sources showed the scale of the explosion from other angles as the strike hit the crossing which has separate road and rail links.

It marks the first time the SBU has openly claimed responsibility for the attack that was conducted by the Ukrainian navy.

The footage, seen by CNN , shows the naval kamikaze drone armed with up to 850kg of explosives sailing towards the bridge under the cover of darkness (pictured) before it smashed into the crossing, sending debris flying through the air

Ukrainian secret service agency SBU today shared a video of the audacious attack by the ‘Sea Baby’ drone which saw huge explosions rip through the 12-mile crossing last month

Separate footage footage released by the SBU and Ukrainian sources showed the scale of the explosion from other angles as the strike hit the crossing which has separate road and rail links

Pictured: The damage caused by the sea drone on the Crimean bridge

The new footage appears to show that Russian defences failed to detect two drones, reported Agenstvo.

One is seen approaching the road crossing, and a second apparently exploded on the rail section as a train was crossing. There is known to be less damage to the rail part of the bridge.

The new ‘Sea Baby’ drone has been in development for months and SBU chief Vasyl Maliuk warned Moscow of more attacks to come. Ukraine today released footage of the naval drone for the first time.

The deadly unmanned boat was loaded with up to 850kg of explosives when it detonated.

The Ukrainian-designed marine drone – reportedly constructed without Western help – was also used to strike two Russian vessels – the assault ship Olengorskiy Gornyak and tanker SIG, putting both out of commission.

‘We are working on a number of new interesting operations, including in the Black Sea waters. I promise you, it’ll be exciting, especially for our enemies,’ Maliuk told CNN.

‘Sea surface drones are a unique invention of the Security Service of Ukraine.’

He explained: ‘Using these drones we have recently conducted a successful hit of the Crimean bridge, the big assault ship Olengorskiy Gornyak and SIG tanker.’

Both of these vessels were struck in a drone attack this month, causing major gashes in their sides and are now out of commission.

A couple were killed and their 14-year-old daughter was seriously injured following the blasts on the Crimean bridge, which is a major supply line for Russian troops fighting in Ukraine and a prestige project that was personally opened by Putin.

A section of the crossing was destroyed in the double strike, with pictures showing twisted metal barriers, debris and a damaged car in a major blow to Moscow’s war effort.

Drivers were seen in dash cam footage braking sharply after the explosions destroyed parts of the crossing and sent debris flying towards them.

Pictured: The ‘Sea Baby’ kamikaze drone that was used for the attack on the Crimean bridge

Sections of the bridge are missing alongside twisted metal barriers following the strikes

Pictured: The damaged Crimean bridge following a drone attack on Monday

Russian investigators and emergency services’ members gather near a destroyed car on the Crimean bridge following the explosions on July 17

Speaking of the attack on the bridge, Maliuk said: ‘At the final stage of the preparation we could not even think about sleep or food… We were fully concentrated on the operation.

‘The final last days were quite nervous. When the explosion happened, we were so happy and started congratulating one another.

‘This was a very emotional moment for all of us and our victory, which will definitely come soon.’

Maliuk insisted that Ukraine’s Western partners are not involved in Kyiv’s attacks on the Russian-built bridge opened by Putin in 2018, or warships.

It comes after the Kremlin blamed Britain and the US for orchestrating the drone strike on the bridge – without providing any evidence to support their outlandish claims.

Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova also accused Ukraine of carrying out the attack with the involvement of Britain and the US.

Maliuk said the bridge linking Russia to Crimea was a ‘legitimate’ target for Ukraine.

The new ‘Sea Baby’ drone has been in development for months and SBU chief Vasyl Maliuk (pictured) warned Moscow of more attacks to come

Pictured: Workers repair the bridge linking Russia to Crimea following the drone attack on 17 July

Pictured: Investigators collect debris at the bridge linking Russia to Crimea following the drone attack on 17 July

The SBU chief also claimed responsibility for an earlier strike on the bridge on 8 October last year involving a truck, but declined to give details.

The strike on the Crimean bridge left Russian politicians furious, with former Russian President Dmitry Medvedev saying Putin should ‘blow up’ the homes of Ukrainians in response to the drone strike.

A ranting Medvedev said at the time: ‘The world and our own experience shows that it is impossible to fight terrorists with international sanctions, intimidation or exhortations.

‘They only understand the language of power. Only personal and completely inhumane methods.

‘Therefore, it is necessary to blow up their own houses and the houses of their relatives.

‘Look for and eliminate their accomplices, abandoning the insipid idea of a trial against them.

‘But the main thing is to destroy the top leadership of terrorist formations, in whatever cracks these insects hide. It’s difficult but possible.’