2024-08-24 01:32:11
A new building is being built along the Kerch Bridge, which connects the annexed peninsula of Crimea with the Russian mainland. Although it resembles a significantly smaller bridge, its purpose is a mystery.
The construction of a structure reminiscent of the second bridge was captured by satellite images already at the beginning of August. Subsequent photos showed that Russian builders had already sunk several columns and were connecting them.
Russia has not yet commented on the construction. “There are more questions than answers,” Ukrainian Navy spokesman Dmytro Pletenchuk said. “Perhaps (the Russians) are trying to partially duplicate the so-called Crimean Bridge. That is our current estimate, as the structure is not particularly prominent,” the American magazine Newsweek quoted him as saying.
In addition to a possible backup crossing of the Kerch Strait, the construction could also have a defensive purpose, added Pletenčuk. The Kerch bridge has been the target of Ukrainian attacks since the beginning of the Russian invasion, the two largest ones came in October 2022 and in July 2023. The Ukrainians used them to destroy the railway part of the bridge, along which the Russians supplied the Crimean peninsula or sent military equipment.
After the beginning of the invasion, Russia transported 40 trains loaded with weapons a day. In May, this number dropped to zero, the ČTK agency wrote.
Attacks on the Kerch Bridge have continued in recent days. The Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs reported on the latter last week, all Ukrainian missiles were allegedly destroyed by Russian air defense. However, the information cannot be verified from independent sources, and the Ukrainian side did not comment on it. Nevertheless, traffic on the bridge was interrupted for four hours, Radio Free Europe wrote.
Therefore, Russia is strengthening the defense of the strategic bridge. In recent months, protection against naval drones, which Ukraine used to attack in the past, has been added to its vicinity, the Ukrainian server Pravda described, adding that the disadvantage of this type of device is that it is easily destroyed by storms.
In the past, floating fences also appeared around the bridge. At the same time, Russia strengthened air defense in the area and deployed the most advanced S-500 anti-missile system there, writes CTK.
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