Russiaof UkraineIt has strategic importance for Moscow on the 227th day of its military intervention against CrimeaThe Kerch Strait bridge, which connects the city to Istanbul, was severely damaged in a violent explosion yesterday morning. While Russian leader Vladimir Putin instructed the establishment of a commission to reveal the cause of the explosion, the Ukrainian side made statements implying that it stood behind it even though it did not take responsibility for the incident.
CRITICAL DEVELOPMENT
As it showed 06:07 yesterday morning, a violent explosion was heard in the Taman Peninsula section of the bridge close to the Russian side. On the bridge, which turned into a fireball in an instant, the two decks of the bidirectional highway broke off and sank into the water. The railway line passing adjacent to the highway was also severely damaged. At that moment, the fuel-laden train train passing through the railway caught fire. As a result of the burning of the diesel spilled on the bridge, the 100-meter railway section became unusable. The Russian side reported that three people were killed during the explosion.
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UAV OR BOAT
About three hours after the explosion, the Russian Anti-Terrorism Committee announced that the incident was sabotage. He stated that a ‘terrorist act’ was carried out by detonating the explosive-laden TIR passing over the bridge with a remote control. However, it was claimed in the international media that the bridge may have been hit by an explosive-laden UAV or an explosive-laden boat. Unlike the international press, the Russian media did not give much coverage to the event, while the Kremlin’s silence said, “Retaliation plans are being made. “Putin will definitely respond.” The head of the Fair Russia faction in the Russian Parliament, Sergey Mironov, has called for Russia to retaliate against Ukrainian infrastructure.
IMPLICATION FROM UKRAINE
Mikhail Podolyak, one of the advisers to Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelensky, said, “The bridge is a beginning. Anything illegal must be destroyed. The annexationist Russians should be expelled from our lands.” In his next post, Podolyak said, “It is worth noting that the blasted truck entered from the Russian side. The answer must be sought in Russia,” he said, pointing to Moscow about the action. Yesterday evening, the Ministry of Transport of Russia announced that the side of the bridge going to the direction of Crimea, which did not collapse, was opened to light vehicles.
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On the other hand, yesterday, Russian Defense Minister Sergey Shoigu signed a decree appointing the Commander of the Russian Aerospace Forces, Sergey Surovikin, to head the military units in Ukraine.
PANIC AIR IN CRIMEA
Panic blew on the peninsula after the bridge connecting the Russian mainland to Crimea was disabled. In the early hours of the morning, people rushed to gas stations, thinking that fuel shortages would break out. The Russian-controlled Crimean local government, on the other hand, announced that they established a control mechanism to prevent food products from being increased in the shadow of the bridge crisis. It has been announced that Russians on holiday in Crimea will be accommodated in their hotels until the start of ferry services.
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PUTIN OPENED THE BRIDGE
With the deactivation of the bridge, it was also a matter of curiosity how Russia would deliver ammunition and supplies to the front.
* The bridge connecting Russia to the Crimean peninsula, which it annexed in 2014, cost 3.6 billion dollars.
* The 19 km long bridge was put into service with a ceremony by Russian leader Putin in 2018.
* The British Daily Mail newspaper gave the headline ‘Happy Birthday Vlad’ to Putin, who celebrated his 70th birthday the previous day, to the news of yesterday’s attack.
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