Officials have urged people in Crimea to avoid using the bridge that connects the occupied peninsula with Russia, following what is being called an “emergency.” Unconfirmed reports suggest that locals heard explosions earlier today, although authorities have not classified it as an attack.
The Kerch bridge, which opened in 2018, serves as a crucial transportation link for road and rail travel between Russia and Crimea. The occupied Ukrainian territory has been under the control of Moscow’s forces since 2014.
In October of last year, the bridge was partially closed due to a significant explosion. However, it reopened fully in February, as it is an important supply route.
Sergey Aksyonov, the head of the Russian administration in Crimea, posted on Telegram, stating, “Traffic was stopped on the Crimean bridge. An emergency occurred in the area of the 145th support from the Russian side of the bridge. Law enforcement agencies and all responsible services are working to restore the situation.”
In light of the incident, Aksyonov urged residents and visitors to refrain from using the Crimean bridge and choose an alternative land route through different regions for their safety.
Russia’s transport ministry clarified that the explosion did not affect the bridge’s supports but damaged only the road surface.
According to reports, the ferry crossing parallel to the bridge has been closed, and there may be potential disruptions to train traffic, as stated by the local rail operator.
This latest incident comes amid an anticipated counteroffensive by Ukrainian forces, aiming to regain control of territories in southern and eastern Ukraine. Additionally, today marks the expiration of a UN-brokered deal allowing grain to leave Ukrainian ports, raising concerns about potential global food shortages.
Source: BBC
