Title: Multiple Missiles Shot Down in Kerch Strait, Russia Condemns Ukrainian “Terrorist Attack”
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[City, State] – Russian officials reported that multiple missiles were shot down over the crucial Kerch Strait on Saturday, sparking yet another round of tensions between Russia and Ukraine. The Kerch Strait is a vital waterway connecting mainland Russia to the annexed Crimea. The bridge, which is a symbol of Russian occupation, has frequently been targeted by Ukrainian attacks.
The Russian-appointed Head of Crimea, Sergey Aksyonov, confirmed that two Ukrainian missiles were shot down in the area on Saturday afternoon. Aksyonov stated on Telegram that the bridge remained undamaged despite the attempted strikes.
Photos and videos circulated on social media platforms, showing white smoke billowing from the bridge. However, CNN has not independently verified these images.
Oleg Kryuchkov, an adviser to the Russian-appointed Head of Crimea, claimed that special services deployed a “smoke screen” to conceal any damage caused. Such tactics are often used to cover up the effects of attacks.
Russia’s defense ministry further claimed that its forces had successfully destroyed 20 Ukrainian drones launched at the peninsula overnight.
In response to the attacks, the Russian foreign ministry condemned Ukraine for what it described as a “terrorist attack”. Maria Zakharova, the spokesperson for the Russian foreign ministry, stated, “The Crimean bridge is an object of purely civilian infrastructure, attacks on which are unacceptable. Such barbaric actions cannot be justified and will not go unanswered.”
Traffic on the Crimean bridge has now resumed, according to the Crimean bridge operative information Telegram account. The bridge serves as a vital artery for supplying Russia’s war effort in Ukraine, allowing the movement of people and goods into the occupied territories.
The Kerch Bridge, also known as the Crimean bridge, holds personal significance for Russian President Vladimir Putin, who considers it a symbol of the “reunification” of Crimea with the Russian mainland. In October, a fuel tanker explosion damaged a significant section of the bridge, which the Kremlin blamed on Ukraine. Putin referred to it as an act of “sabotage” by Ukrainian security services.
In July, the bridge was hit by two strikes, for which a Ukrainian security official told CNN that Kyiv was responsible.
Tensions between Russia and Ukraine have escalated in recent months, with both countries exchanging accusations and engaging in military posturing. Last week, Vasyl Maliuk, the head of the Ukrainian Security Service (SBU), stated that explosions targeting Russian ships or the Crimean bridge were “an absolutely logical and effective step” in their efforts to repel Russian aggression. Maliuk emphasized that the only way to prevent such incidents was for Russia to respect Ukraine’s territorial waters and land.
As the situation unfolds, the international community watches closely, hoping for a peaceful resolution to the ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine.