Thread by @BrianE6B

1/ This post covers the recent developments in the defenses near the Kerch Bridge. Thanks to daily imagery from Planet and taking advantage of Sentinel-1 SAR, we have a bird's eye view of the defenses to defend the bridge from USV attacks.

2/ A post from Mash, pictures of the barrages with spikes surfaced online. They were scheduled to be placed near the Kerch–Yenikale Canal under the Kerch Bridge to prevent USV attacks by Ukraine, which in the past has been successful in rendering the bridge unusable for months.

3/ Upon further investigation using Planet 3M imagery, these booms have started to be placed near the canal, defending the bridge from other attacks in 3 separate lengths, allowing easy removal if ships pass through the path.

4/ After acquiring a SkySat satellite image, the booms bear similarity to the ones being placed at the Sebastopol port; one can even note the barrages that are connected to them via a cable to ensure the booms stay in place and allow easy control to change their positions.

5/ A timelapse of the region using Sentinel-1 SAR due to cloud cover in many Planet 3M images was used to show the defenses' progression accurately. A custom script allows easy delineation of the bridge and the boom barrier.

6/ Nevertheless, I have also added a Planet 3M time lapse of the region for the October to November timeframe, which shows how the barrier is removed to allow easy passage of ships. The barrages play a vital role in this matter.

7/ In the recent storms that ravaged the regions of Crimea, the booms have either been washed away due to rough seas or have been removed to prevent any damage to the booms. The storm has filled the water with silt, making it harder to know the status of the placed defenses.

8/ Thus, I can confidently say that these booms were present to defend the bridge from USV attacks from Ukraine. Only time can tell what the results from this Russian "innovation" will yield when the next attack against the bridge comes.

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