Title: Key Russian Bridge to Crimea Attacked Again, Moscow Blames Ukraine for Fatal Blast
Two people were killed and a young girl injured in an early morning attack on a vital bridge that connects Russia to Crimea, with Moscow pointing fingers at Ukraine for the incident. The bridge, which serves as a crucial supply route for Kremlin forces in the ongoing conflict with Ukraine, was forced to temporarily close for the second time in less than a year due to the significant damage caused by the blast.
The Kerch Bridge, spanning 19 kilometers and linking Russia to the Moscow-annexed region of Crimea, came to a standstill as vehicle and rail traffic were halted for approximately six hours. Russian authorities have attributed the attack to two Ukrainian maritime drones, according to the National Anti-Terrorist Committee.
While Ukrainian officials refrained from taking direct responsibility for the attack, Ukrainian Security Service spokesman Artem Degtyarenko alluded to their involvement, stating that they would divulge the details of the operation once Kyiv had emerged victorious in the ongoing conflict.
This is not the first time the bridge has come under attack. In October, a truck bomb detonated, damaging two sections of the bridge that required months of extensive repair. The recent attack has resulted in a section of the bridge deck tilting to one side and debris scattered across the area.
The Kerch Bridge stands as a symbolic representation of Moscow’s claim over Crimea and serves as a vital land link to the peninsula, which was annexed by Russia in 2014. The construction of the $3.6 billion bridge, the longest in Europe, has been instrumental in facilitating Russia’s military operations in southern Ukraine throughout the nearly 17-month-long conflict.
Russia’s presence in Crimea has steadily increased since its invasion of Ukraine in 2014. The region has witnessed occasional acts of sabotage and attacks on Russian military installations, with the Kremlin consistently attributing blame to Ukraine.
The attack on the bridge coincides with Ukraine’s ongoing counteroffensive in multiple sections of the front line. Additionally, Russia recently announced the termination of a United Nations and Turkey-brokered agreement enabling the export of Ukrainian grain during the war, further exacerbating tensions between the two nations.
The victims of the blast were identified as Alexei and Natalia Kulik, who were en route to Crimea for a summer vacation. Alexei, a 40-year-old truck driver, and Natalia, a 36-year-old municipal education worker, lost their lives in the attack, while their 14-year-old daughter sustained injuries to her chest and brain.
Moscow has condemned the Ukrainian government once again, referring to it as a terrorist organization. Dmitry Medvedev, deputy head of Russia’s Security Council, called for extreme measures, suggesting that the houses of Ukrainian officials and their relatives be blown up, and their accomplices be identified and eliminated.
Russian authorities stated that the attack did not cause significant damage to the bridge’s support piers but heavily impacted the deck on one of the road links. Last October’s attack had inflicted more severe damage compared to the recent incident.
While the spokesperson for Ukraine’s military intelligence department refrained from commenting directly on the attack, he emphasized the strategic importance of the peninsula for Russian forces and acknowledged that any logistical disruption would pose additional challenges for the occupying power.
The Security Service of Ukraine responded to the attack by posting a modified version of a popular lullaby, indicating that the bridge had gone to sleep again.
The attack on the key Russian bridge, coupled with the ongoing conflict and the termination of the grain export agreement, underscores the escalating tensions between Russia and Ukraine. Both countries continue to blame each other for the deteriorating situation, while the international community closely monitors the developments in the region.
