On July 17 Daryo mentioned that a blast occurred near the 145th support pillar on the Crimean Bridge, as per to Sergey Aksyonov, Crimea's leader. A Ukrainian security official has claimed responsibility for an attack on the Kerch Bridge, which links the annexed Crimean peninsula to the Russian mainland, marking the second assault on the vital supply line since Russia's invasion of Ukraine, reports CNN later the same day. The source requested anonymity as they did not have permission to speak on the record.
The attack, reportedly carried out by naval drones, resulted in the partial collapse of a section of the bridge, causing casualties and disrupting transportation. The bridge holds immense strategic and symbolic importance for Russia, serving as a key connection for its war effort in Ukraine and a personal project for President Vladimir Putin.
Russian-appointed officials reported two casualties and pledged retaliation for what President Putin termed a "terrorist attack." However, the Ukrainian minister for digital transformation, Mykhailo Fedorov, defended the strike, asserting that hitting the bridge was a necessary action and implying the existence of indigenous military capabilities. The incident has heightened tensions between Ukraine and Russia, further fueling the ongoing conflict.
While the exact nature and extent of the damage caused by the attack are still being assessed, preliminary evaluations indicate significant disruptions to traffic on the bridge. Russian authorities anticipate that it will take nearly two months to resume two-way traffic, and in the meantime, alternative transportation options such as ferries have been made available.
Comments (0)