Russian authorities on Saturday said a sea drone attack damaged a Russian tanker near the strategic bridge linking Russia to the annexed peninsula of Crimea.

Russian media said the SIG vessel, approaching the Kerch Strait linking the Black Sea and the Sea of Azov, was hit by Ukrainian drones, as Ukraine’s Interfax agency said Ukraine's navy was behind the attack with drones in its territorial waters.

According to the Russian-Installed officials in Crmea, no one was hurt, but the Crimean Bridge and ferry transport were suspended for several hours, which Moscow seized from Ukraine in 2014.

Kyiv seldom claims responsibility for attacks inside Russia or on Russian-controlled territory in Ukraine, but has said that destroying Russia's military infrastructure boosts its counteroffensive chances in the 17-month-old war.

Head of Ukraine's SBU security service, Vasyl Malyuk, did not directly say that Ukraine had attacked the vessel, but he commented that any incident with Russian ships or the Crimean bridge was "an absolutely logical and efficient step towards the enemy".

"Moreover, such special operations are conducted in the territorial waters of Ukraine and are completely legal," Malyuk said on the Telegram messaging app.