What is known about the explosion on the Crimean bridge

Russia speaks of a “terrorist attack” and blames Ukraine, Kiev is keeping a low profile – after the explosion on the Crimean bridge, much is still unclear. What is known so far.

What happened?

At least one explosion occurred on Monday night on the 19-kilometer bridge that connects the Russian mainland with the Russian-occupied Crimea peninsula. A Telegram channel linked to the Wagner mercenary force reports two attacks – one at 3:04 a.m. and one at 3:20 a.m.

Two people were killed, the governor of the Russian region of Belgorod, Vyacheslav Gladkov, said in a video message. Accordingly, the dead are said to be a married couple, the 14-year-old daughter of the two was injured and taken to a hospital. The family was on their way to vacation, according to Russian media.

Car and train traffic was initially suspended. Ferry services have also been suspended. Rail traffic has since been resumed. A train from the Crimean capital of Simferopol left five hours late in the direction of the southern Russian region of Krasnodar, the Crimean occupation authorities said.

What is known about the background?

So far, no one has acknowledged this. The head of parliament in Crimea, which Russia annexed in 2014, Vladimir Konstantinov blamed Ukraine. “Tonight the terror regime of Kiev committed a new crime and attacked the Crimean bridge,” he wrote on his Telegram channel. The Russian anti-terrorist committee assumes that Ukraine attacked the bridge with surface drones.

The Kremlin is also accusing Kiev: “We know the reasons and those behind the terrorist attack,” said Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov, according to Russian news agencies. “All this is the work of the Kiev regime.”

The spokeswoman for the Russian Foreign Ministry, Maria Zakharova, also spoke of suspected British and US aid: “The attack on the Crimean bridge today was carried out by the regime in Kiev. This regime is a terrorist, and it has all the hallmarks of an internationally organized criminal gang,” said Zakharova. “Decisions are made by Ukrainian politicians and the military, with direct help from American and British intelligence and politicians.”

There are indications that the Ukrainian domestic secret service SBU could be behind it, says Vassili Golod, ARD correspondent in Kiew. The SBU denied involvement ARD request not. All information about the operations of the secret service would only be made public after a victory in Ukraine, it said. In a first reaction, the authorities only said: “The bridge has gone to sleep again”. And one… two!”

Kiev media reports that the SBU may have collaborated with the Navy. They cite insider information that drones were used.

What is the significance of the Crimean Bridge?

The so-called Crimean Bridge is actually two 19-kilometer bridges – one for railways, one for cars. They are the only bridges connecting the Russian mainland, the Krasnodar region, with the Crimea occupied by Russia. Both go through the Kerch Strait, the connection from the Black Sea to the Azov Sea.

The bridge was opened by President Vladimir Putin five years ago. In Russia, the construction is considered a prestige project with a high symbolic value, intended to cement Russia’s claim to the Ukrainian peninsula.

But the Crimean Bridge also has a high strategic value. “Crimea is one of Russia’s key strategic military bases, which is used significantly for the Russian war of aggression against Ukraine,” says ARD correspondent gold. “Anything that restricts supplies, which in large part cross the bridge, is to Ukraine’s advantage.”

The symbolic value of the attack should not be underestimated either. “It sends a signal to the people of Russia that Putin isn’t that strong and isn’t in a position to defend what he sees as his own territory,” Golod said.

What are the implications for Russian vacationers to Crimea?

The Crimean peninsula is very popular with Russian vacationers. According to the state news agency Ria Nowosti, around 50,000 people are vacationing there in the high season, many of whom came by car. Russian authorities advised tourists to drive back home through Russian-held territory in Ukraine. Russian state television showed a map of the approximately 400-kilometer route that goes through the occupied southern Ukrainian city of Melitopol to the largely destroyed port city of Mariupol and ends in the southern Russian city of Rostov. Some of the regions are affected by battles.

Travelers should take their passports with them. “Security is guaranteed by the Russian army” and will be reinforced, explained Vladimir Saldo, the governor of the Kherson region appointed by Moscow. He minimized curfews to allow through traffic. At the same time, Saldo warned that there were checkpoints to prevent “sabotage”.

Are there parallels to the explosion in October 2022?

Not for the first time the Crimean bridge was attacked. The construction was severely damaged by an explosion in October 2022. Several people died, part of the road fell into the sea and a truck exploded. Traffic over the bridge was severely restricted for months, and it was not until February 2023 that all lanes were reopened.

Immediately after the attack, Russia blamed Ukraine. However, it was not until May that Ukrainian intelligence chief Vasyl Malyuk confirmed Kiev’s involvement in the explosion in Crimea.

Is the attack the reason for the suspension of the Grain Agreement?

The Kremlin expired the agreement to export grain from Ukraine across the Black Sea just hours after the incident. According to the Russian Presidential Office, there is no connection to the explosions in Crimea.

“These are two unrelated events,” said Kremlin spokesman Peskov. The agreement was not renewed because the part concerning Russia had not been implemented. As soon as the agreements are fulfilled, Russia will participate again.