Deadly Attack on Crimean Bridge Blamed on Ukraine; Putin’s Prestige Project in Doubt
KERCH, Crimea – In a tragic incident on Monday, two parents were killed and their daughter was injured in what Russia claims was a Ukrainian attack on the Crimean Bridge. The bridge, a crucial route for Russian troops fighting in Ukraine and a project personally inaugurated by President Vladimir Putin, suffered major damage.
Reports of blasts before dawn on the 19-km (12-mile) road and rail bridge connecting Russia to Crimea emerged, along with unverified imagery showing a split section of road and metal barriers buckled. Dash cam footage showed drivers abruptly stopping after the incident, resulting in a halt in traffic.
Russian officials immediately accused Ukraine of carrying out a “terrorist” attack on the bridge. Coincidentally, this attack occurred on the same day that Putin had to decide whether to extend a UN-brokered deal allowing the export of grain via the Black Sea. Russian prosecutors pointed fingers at Ukrainian security services and labeled the incident an act of terrorism.
However, the Ukrainian military suggested that the attack may have been a provocation orchestrated by Russia itself. Ukrainian media reported anonymous sources claiming that the Ukrainian Security Service was behind the incident.
The tragic incident resulted in the death of the parents and left their daughter hospitalized in intensive care. Vyacheslav Gladkov, governor of the Belgorod region, expressed his condolences, stating, “No words can calm the pain of loss here.”
Russia had blamed Ukraine for another attack on the bridge in October 2022, admitting to the attack indirectly several months later. In retaliation, Russia launched strikes against Ukrainian cities, including power supplies. Putin ordered the bridge to be repaired and personally drove a Mercedes across it to demonstrate its strength.
The incident’s impact on the UN-brokered grain export deal remains unclear. The deal expired on Monday, with the last ship departing from the port of Odesa on Sunday. Sergei Mironov, leader of the A Just Russia party in parliament, called on Moscow to respond by destroying Ukrainian infrastructure. He believes a grain deal should be off the table following another terrorist attack.
The Crimean Bridge, Europe’s longest bridge, was built by a company controlled by Putin ally Arkady Rotenberg. Putin has considered the project a significant showcase of Russian power. The Crimean peninsula has long been a cherished vacation destination for Russians, especially after the country’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022 made traveling to the West more challenging.
Crimea was transferred from Soviet Russia to Soviet Ukraine in 1954 and recognized by Russia in 1994 after the collapse of the USSR. Ukraine has vowed to reclaim Crimea.
Footage captured from a train crossing the bridge showed passengers gasping at the damaged road. Traffic congestion leading up to the bridge has been a daily occurrence as Russians travel to the region for holidays. The Russian-backed administration of Crimea advised residents against using the bridge, and authorities redirected vehicles away from the area.
The Russian-appointed governor of Kherson, Vladimir Saldo, assured Russian tourists that they could still travel to Crimea via the Russian-controlled regions of southern Ukraine.
The incident raises questions about the future of the Crimean bridge and poses a threat to Russian supply lines, potentially stranding thousands of Russian tourists in Crimea.