The destruction of the bridge on the Crimean peninsula is a heavy blow to Russia: the structure was not only of strategic importance, but also was an important signal from the Kremlin that the annexation of Crimea was symbolically completed with its opening in 2018. Any attack is also seen as a great humiliation for Crimea, as the army is massively present there. It is now becoming even more difficult for Moscow to supply its troops at the front in southern Ukraine.
As the longest bridge in Europe, the bridge was celebrated as the “structure of the century” by the Russian media. It was said to be well protected from threats from the air, land or sea. The 19-kilometer bridge also made access from Ukraine to the Sea of Azov more difficult due to the narrower lanes for ships – the Ukrainian ports of Mariupol and Berdyansk were more difficult to reach. That the bridge was badly damaged by explosions is downplayed by the Russian side. Crimea’s parliament speaker Vladimir Konstantinov said the damage to the bridge “will be repaired immediately as it is not serious”. However, the images and videos circulating from the partially collapsed bridge suggest the opposite.
Kiev: ‘Two infamous symbols of Russian power disappeared’
For Konstantinov is clear who is responsible for the explosions and the seat of the fire on the building: “Ukrainian vandals who finally managed to reach the bridge of Crimea with their bloody hands,” the spokesman said. On the Ukrainian side, the incident was largely commented on with goodwill: the official Twitter account of the Ukrainian government responded to the fire with a simple tweet: “Sick Burn”. The Defense Ministry recalled another heavy loss to Russia in the Ukraine conflict: “The guided missile cruiser Moskva and the Kerch Bridge – two infamous symbols of Russian power in Ukraine’s Crimea – have disappeared. Now what, Russians?
Long lines of cars in front of gas stations
The Russian Foreign Ministry said that “the Kiev regime’s response to the destruction of civilian infrastructure is evidence of its terrorist nature.” Videos circulating on social media show how concerned the people of Crimea are about the future supply situation. Accordingly, huge queues of cars formed in front of gas stations to stock up on fuel in a timely manner.
Supply to the front in southern Ukraine becomes more difficult
The Russian army also faces new challenges in view of the broken bridge. Until now, it has been used to transport military equipment, ammunition and personnel from Russia to the battlefields of southern Ukraine. “Soldiers, military equipment and ammunition can be taken by train to Crimea and transhipped there. From there, supplies will go to Mariupol, Zaporizhia and Kherson,” Gustav Gressel, military expert of the European Council on Foreign Relations, told the “Redaktionsnetzwerk Deutschland” before the attack.
Attack presumably carried out from below and not from the air
How the explosions were caused is also currently the subject of intense debate. Due to the great distance from Ukrainian territory, an explosives expert told the BBC that the fire was probably not caused by a rocket. “The lack of apparent blast/shrapnel damage on the road surface suggests that no air force was used,” he said. He thinks it is likely that “a well-planned attack from below could be the cause”. “I suspect that the explosives on the road bridge and the train deck were detonated almost simultaneously with a coded radio command,” he added.
Source: Krone
I’m Wayne Wickman, a professional journalist and author for Today Times Live. My specialty is covering global news and current events, offering readers a unique perspective on the world’s most pressing issues. I’m passionate about storytelling and helping people stay informed on the goings-on of our planet.
