17-7-2023 (MOSCOW) Two individuals have lost their lives following an incident described as an “attack” on the bridge connecting the occupied Crimean peninsula to Russia. The head of Crimea’s parliament has placed the blame on Ukraine, as reported by state media. However, Ukraine has yet to issue an official statement regarding the incident.
The Kerch bridge, which was inaugurated in 2018, serves as a vital transportation route for both road and rail travel between Russia and Crimea, an area that has been under the control of Moscow’s forces since 2014, despite being recognized as Ukrainian territory.
Russia’s transport ministry has stated that the supports of the bridge were not damaged. Investigations are ongoing, but unconfirmed reports suggest that explosions were heard in the early hours of Monday.
This is the second major incident to occur on the Kerch bridge within the past year. In October 2022, the bridge, which plays a crucial role as a supply route, was partially closed due to a significant explosion. It was fully reopened in February.
Best view of the damage to the Kerch Bridge so far. The bridge was constructed after Putin’s annexation of Crimea, connecting it to Russia. Although unclear if this is the only damaged section. pic.twitter.com/BTBVsYqJ2y
— Igor Sushko (@igorsushko) July 17, 2023
Vyacheslav Gladkov, the governor of Russia’s western region of Belgorod, announced in a Telegram statement that two individuals, the parents of a young girl, lost their lives in what he described as an “emergency” incident.
Unverified photos posted by the spokesperson for the Odesa military administration displayed debris on the bridge’s road and damaged railings.
Grey Zone, a Russian Telegram channel affiliated with the Wagner group, claimed that the bridge may have been damaged by an underwater drone launched by Ukraine.
Vladimir Konstantinov, the head of Crimea’s parliament, also pointed fingers at Ukraine, according to Russian state news agency RIA Novosti.
A source within Ukraine’s intelligence service, the SBU, informed the BBC’s Russian service that the attack was carried out by the navy’s special forces in collaboration with the SBU. Ukrainian media similarly reported that anonymous sources within the agency took responsibility for the attack. However, these claims have yet to be independently verified by the BBC.
Andriy Yusov, spokesperson for Ukrainian intelligence, declined to comment on the cause of the latest incident but referred to the bridge as an “unnecessary structure.” He also mentioned that any logistical challenges faced by Russia could potentially benefit the Ukrainian defense forces.
The Kerch Bridge that links occupied Crimea with Russia, the monument to Putin’s ambitions, is severely damaged again. Might have been attacked by Ukrainian unmanned naval drones. The Russian government advises tourists to use a long detour via the occupied territories. pic.twitter.com/LpuZweHWw0
— Konstantin Sonin (@k_sonin) July 17, 2023
However, Natalia Humeniuk, spokesperson for Ukraine’s southern military command, suggested that the incident might be a provocation orchestrated by Moscow.
Sergey Aksyonov, the head of the Russian administration in Crimea, provided updates on the situation via Telegram, stating that traffic on the Crimean bridge had been halted due to the emergency at the 145th support area on the Russian side. Efforts were underway to restore normalcy, and residents and visitors were advised to refrain from using the bridge and choose alternative land routes for safety reasons.
The incident occurs against the backdrop of an anticipated counteroffensive by Ukrainian forces aiming to reclaim territories in southern and eastern Ukraine. Additionally, Monday marks the expiration of a deal brokered by the UN last year, allowing grain to be exported from Ukrainian ports. Both Ukraine and Russia are prominent global grain exporters, but Russia has so far refused to extend the agreement, raising concerns about potential food shortages.
