Symbol of the Russian annexation of Crimea and an important supply route for Moscow’s troops in southern Ukraine, the Kerch bridge was partially destroyed in an explosion yesterday. The Ukrainians congratulated themselves but did not claim responsibility – despite claiming that “everything that is illegal must be destroyed”. The Russians did not point the finger at Kiev, but considered that the reaction that came from the Ukrainian capital “is a testament to the terrorist nature” of the “regime”. Russian President Vladimir Putin has ordered the intelligence services (FSB) to strengthen the bridge’s security.
“In order to increase the effectiveness of measures to protect the Kerch Strait transport corridor”, in addition to the power grid and gas pipeline that passes through Krasnodar, Putin signed a decree “to entrust the FSB with the authority to organize and coordinate measures to protect” these infrastructures. This at a time when military leadership is under criticism. The president also ordered an investigation into the explosion that killed three people, and the bodies of a man and a woman, who were traveling in a car on the bridge, were removed from the water.
The explosion at 06.07 in Moscow (04.07 in Lisbon) and, according to the national anti-terrorism committee, “was triggered in a cargo vehicle on the road part of the bridge”, which in turn “ignited seven fuel tanks of a train that was on its way of the Crimean peninsula”. As a result, “two sections of the highway partially collapsed”.
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