A car bomb exploded on the Crimean Bridge, causing a large fire on this critical thoroughfare between the annexed Ukrainian peninsula and Russian territory, according to Russian news agencies citing the Russian National Anti-Terrorism Committee. The bridge, built at a high cost under the orders of Russian President Vladimir Putin, is used for transporting military equipment to Russian forces fighting in Ukraine. The committee stated, "A car bomb exploded on a section of the road of the Crimean Bridge, leading to a fire in seven tankers on the railway heading to Crimea."
They mentioned that the explosion damaged two lanes of the bridge's roadway, but its arch remained intact. A Kremlin spokesman told the RIA Novosti news agency that Putin has ordered the formation of a government committee to investigate the incident. Vladimir Konstantinov, head of the Crimean Council - the local parliament installed by Russia - accused "Ukrainian saboteurs" of being behind the explosion. CNN reported that this incident is considered a "heavy blow for Russia."
What is the Crimean Bridge?
The Crimean Bridge, also known as the "Kerch Bridge," named after the strait separating the Ukrainian Crimean Peninsula from Russian territory, was inaugurated in 2018 following the occupation of the region in 2014. In May 2018, Putin personally inaugurated the massive bridge by driving a bright orange truck. Initially designated for vehicle traffic, it later included a dedicated rail lane.
The Kerch Bridge, spanning 19 kilometers, is a massive and costly project that took two years to complete, aiming to connect Russia to the Crimean Peninsula and reduce its isolation four years after its annexation, which Ukraine describes as "illegal." The bridge's height at the Tuzla Island reaches 35 meters at its central arch, allowing a maximum speed of 120 km/h, provided weather conditions do not slow down traffic, according to RIA Novosti.
The construction of this bridge cost 228.3 billion rubles (approximately $7.5 billion). Last month, Ukraine threatened to dismantle the Kerch Bridge, which was built by Moscow at a high cost to connect Russia with the Crimean Peninsula, where several explosions had occurred at Russian military bases. At that time, Ukrainian presidential adviser Mykhailo Podolyak wrote on Telegram, "This bridge is an illegal structure that Ukraine did not allow to be built. It harms the environment of the peninsula and therefore should be dismantled. It does not matter how: intentionally or not."
Crimea is a popular vacation destination for Russians, known for its beaches and mountains, with tourists from Russia being one of the main sources of income for the Black Sea peninsula.
What is the Importance of the Kerch Bridge?
The massive bridge has formed a key link for transporting military equipment for Russian soldiers fighting in Ukraine, especially in the south, as well as for moving troops there. The suspension of the bridge's operation cuts supplies to Russian military bases in Crimea, which are used for military operations inside Ukraine.
Russia has maintained that the bridge is secure despite the fighting in Ukraine, but the peninsula, which had remained safe for months after the invasion, has recently faced attacks. In August, a munitions depot at a military site near the village of Dzhankoy in northern Crimea was targeted, which Moscow claimed was the result of "sabotage." In the same month, Moscow reported an explosion of munitions at a military airbase in Crimea, resulting in one death and several injuries. Ukraine has not officially claimed any attacks targeting the Crimean Peninsula, but officials have hinted that Ukrainian forces may be involved in these incidents.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has previously stated that Kyiv "will never give up" its intention to reclaim the Crimean Peninsula from Russia. The Guardian noted that the damage to the railway line, in particular, leaves Russian forces in the south with only one rail supply line between Krasnodar and Melitopol within the range of Ukrainian attacks.
