By decree, Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered the FSB’s secret service to tighten control over the Crimean Bridge, which had been damaged by a suspected bomb attack. “The FSB will be given powers to organize and coordinate protective measures for the transport route across the Kerch Strait, for the flow bridge from the Russian Federation to the Crimean peninsula and the gas pipeline from the Krasnodar Territory to Crimea.” However, Kiev left its participation open.
It is the Kremlin’s first action after Saturday morning’s explosion, which is believed to have been caused by an attack. At least three people were said to have been killed. So far, according to Duma deputy Alexander Chinstein, the responsibility for the bridge’s safety has been threefold. The Ministry of Defense was responsible for airspace surveillance and the National Guard “Rosgwardija” for maritime surveillance. However, the auto and rail route itself was controlled by the Ministry of Transport.
Symbolically and strategically important bridge
The Crimean Bridge, which is strategically and symbolically important for Russia, was rocked by a heavy explosion on Saturday morning. Extensive damage can be seen on videos. The exact background is still unclear. According to Russian sources, a truck exploded. As a result, according to Russian researchers, seven tank wagons with diesel caught fire. In addition, parts of the bridge road fell into the sea.
Before the Kremlin decree was published, the head of the Russian republic of Chechnya, Ramzan Kadyrov, who ruled with a heavy hand and had been criticized for the most serious crimes against humanity, had offered to guard the Crimean Bridge with his units in the future. . Officially, these units are subordinate to the National Guard “Rosgwardija”.
Selenskyj leaves involvement in explosion open
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Saturday night whether Kiev was involved in the explosion. In Ukraine, it was mostly sunny and warm, “unfortunately cloudy in Crimea, but warm there too,” he said in his daily video speech, referring to the morning blast. He did not go into detail about the incident. He then again called on the Russians to surrender and flee. According to Zelenskyj, this is her best option to stay alive. There will be a future without occupiers in Ukraine. “All over our territory, especially in Crimea,” he said.
According to Zelenskyy, the advance of his troops in the east and south continues. However, he gave no information about new conquests. Instead, the head of state emphasized the Donetsk region, part of the front where the Russians had recently reported success. The 44-year-old admitted that there was very hard fighting in the Bachmut area. He praised the “resilience” of the brigade that held positions there. The town is considered an important pillar in the defensive stronghold around the Kiev-controlled Slovyansk-Kramatorsk area in the Donetsk region.
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.
