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== Event ==
== Event ==
On 8 October 2022, an explosion occurred on the road part of the Crimean Bridge from the side of the [[Taman Peninsula]].<ref name="agents">{{Cite web |lang=ru-RU |url=https://www.agents.media/vzorvan-krymskij-most-chto-izvestno/ |title=Взорван Крымский мост: что известно |trans-title=The Crimean bridge was blown up: what is known |work=[[Agentstvo]] |date=8 October 2022|access-date=8 October 2022}}</ref>{{clarify|date=October 2022|reason=The road runs from the end of the Taman Peninsula, not the side of it.}} The press service of the [[Crimea Railway]] stated that at 6:05&nbsp;am the equipment showed an error on the railway tracks on the railway part of the bridge, and a fuel container wagon caught fire in the tail of the freight train. As a result of the explosion, Crimea-bound spans of the roadway collapsed into the water,<ref>{{cite news |title=Massive blast cripples parts of Crimea-Russia bridge, in blow to Putin's war effort |date=8 October 2022 |url=https://edition.cnn.com/2022/10/08/europe/crimea-bridge-explosion-intl-hnk/index.html |publisher=[[CNN]] |access-date=8 October 2022 |archive-date=8 October 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221008055108/https://edition.cnn.com/2022/10/08/europe/crimea-bridge-explosion-intl-hnk/index.html |url-status=live }}</ref> and road and rail traffic was stopped.<ref name="после дня рождения">{{Cite news |lang=ru |url=https://meduza.io/feature/2022/10/08/vzryv-na-krymskom-mostu-dvizhenie-ostanovleno-chast-avtomobilnogo-mosta-obrushilas |title=Взрыв на Крымском мосту. Движение остановлено. Часть автомобильного моста обрушилась. Это произошло на следующий день после дня рождения Путина |trans-title=Explosion on the Crimean bridge. Traffic stopped. Part of the road bridge collapsed. It happened the day after Putin's birthday |work=[[Meduza]] |access-date=8 October 2022 |archive-date=8 October 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221008150644/https://meduza.io/feature/2022/10/08/vzryv-na-krymskom-mostu-dvizhenie-ostanovleno-chast-avtomobilnogo-mosta-obrushilas |url-status=live }}</ref>
On 8 October 2022, an explosion occurred on the road part of the Crimean Bridge from the side of the [[Taman Peninsula]].<ref name="agents">{{Cite web |lang=ru-RU |url=https://www.agents.media/vzorvan-krymskij-most-chto-izvestno/ |title=Взорван Крымский мост: что известно |trans-title=The Crimean bridge was blown up: what is known |work=[[Agentstvo]] |date=8 October 2022|access-date=8 October 2022}}</ref>{{clarify|date=October 2022|reason=The road runs from the end of the Taman Peninsula, not the side of it.}} The press service of the [[Crimea Railway]] stated that at 6:05&nbsp;am the equipment showed an error on the railway tracks on the railway part of the bridge, and a fuel container wagon caught fire in the tail of the freight train. As a result of the explosion, Crimea-bound spans of the roadway collapsed into the water,<ref>{{cite news |title=Massive blast cripples parts of Crimea-Russia bridge, in blow to Putin's war effort |date=8 October 2022 |url=https://edition.cnn.com/2022/10/08/europe/crimea-bridge-explosion-intl-hnk/index.html |publisher=[[CNN]] |access-date=8 October 2022 |archive-date=8 October 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221008055108/https://edition.cnn.com/2022/10/08/europe/crimea-bridge-explosion-intl-hnk/index.html |url-status=live }}</ref> and road and rail traffic were stopped.<ref name="после дня рождения">{{Cite news |lang=ru |url=https://meduza.io/feature/2022/10/08/vzryv-na-krymskom-mostu-dvizhenie-ostanovleno-chast-avtomobilnogo-mosta-obrushilas |title=Взрыв на Крымском мосту. Движение остановлено. Часть автомобильного моста обрушилась. Это произошло на следующий день после дня рождения Путина |trans-title=Explosion on the Crimean bridge. Traffic stopped. Part of the road bridge collapsed. It happened the day after Putin's birthday |work=[[Meduza]] |access-date=8 October 2022 |archive-date=8 October 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221008150644/https://meduza.io/feature/2022/10/08/vzryv-na-krymskom-mostu-dvizhenie-ostanovleno-chast-avtomobilnogo-mosta-obrushilas |url-status=live }}</ref>


Initially, two possible causes of the fire were announced: the explosion of a fuel container wagon on the railway part of the bridge and the explosion of an automotive vehicle, probably a truck, on the road part. According to the {{Interlanguage link|National Anti-Terrorism Committee|ru|Национальный антитеррористический комитет (Россия)}} of the Russian Federation, a truck was blown up, which caused the fire of seven rail fuel containers.<ref name="agents" />
Initially, two possible causes of the fire were announced: the explosion of a fuel container wagon on the railway part of the bridge and the explosion of an automotive vehicle, probably a truck, on the road part. According to the {{Interlanguage link|National Anti-Terrorism Committee|ru|Национальный антитеррористический комитет (Россия)}} of the Russian Federation, a truck was blown up, which caused the fire of seven rail fuel containers.<ref name="agents" />

Revision as of 05:59, 9 October 2022

2022 Crimean Bridge explosion
Part of the southern Ukraine campaign of the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine
The Crimean Bridge in 2019
Map
Date8 October 2022
Time6:07 a.m. (UTC+03:00)
LocationCrimean Bridge
Coordinates45°18′08″N 36°30′41″E / 45.30222°N 36.51139°E / 45.30222; 36.51139
Deaths3[1][2]

In the morning of 8 October 2022 at 6:07 a.m. (Moscow Time), during the Russian invasion of Ukraine, an explosion occurred on the road portion of the Crimean Bridge, killing three people. Seven fuel cars of a passing railway train also ignited, causing an extensive fire on the parallel rail bridge, and two half-sections of the road bridge collapsed.[3]

Russian state media reported that a truck caused the explosion.[4] Vladimir Konstantinov, a senior Russian-installed politician in Crimea, accused Ukraine of responsibility.[5] As of 8 October 2022, neither Ukraine nor NATO has released an official statement on the incident. The president of Russia and the country's security council have not commented either. Senior Ukrainian officials previously stated that the bridge would be a legitimate target for a missile strike.[6]

Background

The bridge linking Crimea and the Kuban began construction in February 2016, after the Russian occupation and annexation of the peninsula.[7] The Russian authorities called the construction of the bridge a "historic mission", one of the key tasks for the "final unification of Crimea with Russia".[8] In May 2018, the road bridge was opened to traffic, and in December 2019, the rail bridge became operational.[9]

In 2022, with the start of the Russian invasion, the bridge was used to supply the Russian Armed Forces in the southern theater of operations of the Russo-Ukrainian War.[10]

Ukrainian officials and the military have repeatedly declared their intention to destroy the Crimean Bridge, considering it as a legitimate military target.[11][12] Thus, in August 2022, an adviser to the presidential office, Mykhailo Podolyak, said in an interview with The Guardian: "It's an illegal construction and the main gateway to supply the Russian army in Crimea. Such objects should be destroyed".[13] Major General of the Armed Forces of Ukraine Dmytro Marchenko [uk] stated that the bridge would become "target number one" as soon as Ukraine had weapons to attack it.[14]

Event

On 8 October 2022, an explosion occurred on the road part of the Crimean Bridge from the side of the Taman Peninsula.[15][clarification needed] The press service of the Crimea Railway stated that at 6:05 am the equipment showed an error on the railway tracks on the railway part of the bridge, and a fuel container wagon caught fire in the tail of the freight train. As a result of the explosion, Crimea-bound spans of the roadway collapsed into the water,[16] and road and rail traffic were stopped.[17]

Initially, two possible causes of the fire were announced: the explosion of a fuel container wagon on the railway part of the bridge and the explosion of an automotive vehicle, probably a truck, on the road part. According to the National Anti-Terrorism Committee [ru] of the Russian Federation, a truck was blown up, which caused the fire of seven rail fuel containers.[15]

No one claimed responsibility for the explosion, while the Ukrainian media Ukrainska Pravda and UNIAN, citing their own sources, stated that it was a Security Service of Ukraine operation.[18][19]

Later in the day the bridge reopened to light road traffic on one carriageway and some rail traffic.[3]

Casualties

According to the Investigative Committee of Russia, three people died as a result of the explosion, including a man and woman in a car next to the truck.[1][20]

Reactions

Ukrainian

The Ukrainian government's official Twitter account tweeted "sick burn" in response to the fire, while Mykhailo Podolyak, a Ukrainian presidential advisor, called the damage the "beginning": "Crimea, a bridge, the beginning. Everything illegal must be destroyed, everything stolen must be returned to Ukraine, everything occupied by Russia must be expelled."[21]

The Ministry of Defense of Ukraine compared the destruction of the Crimean Bridge to the destruction of the cruiser Moskva writing: "The guided missile cruiser Moskva and the Kerch Bridge – two notorious symbols of Russian power in Ukrainian Crimea – have gone down. What's next in line, Russkies?".[22][23][24]

Director of Ukrposhta Ihor Smilianskyi announced the release of a new stamp set dedicated to the event.[25]

Monobank, Ukraine's second largest bank, has announced a new debit card featuring the bridge.[22]

Oleksiy Danilov, head of the National Security and Defence Council, posted a video of the bridge on social media, along with a video of Marilyn Monroe singing "Happy Birthday, Mr. President".[26] The explosion occurred a day after the birthday of Russian President Vladimir Putin.[27]

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said during his nightly address: "Today was not a bad day and mostly sunny on our state's territory. Unfortunately, it was cloudy in Crimea. Although it was also warm,"[28]

Russian

The Russian occupation authorities of the Crimea accused the Ukrainian side.[17] The spokeswoman of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation, Maria Zakharova, accused the "Kyiv regime" of terrorism, and a deputy of the State Duma, Andrey Gurulyov, called on the commander-in-chief to "strongly respond".[29] In April 2022, Dmitry Medvedev, former President and Deputy of the Security Council of Russia, said: "One of the Ukrainian generals talked about the need to strike at the Crimean Bridge. I hope he understands what the retaliatory target will be."[30]

Sergei Aksyonov, the Russian appointed head of Crimea, has indicated that they have enough food and fuel saying: "The situation is manageable - it's unpleasant, but not fatal," He also expressed a desire for revenge. [31]

International

The foreign minister of Estonia, Urmas Reinsalu, welcomed the explosion and suggested that Ukrainian special forces were behind it, recalling that the Ukrainian authorities had long called the Crimean Bridge a possible target for a strike.[32]

A member of the European Parliament from Poland, Robert Biedroń, said:[33] "A balm for the heart, especially since yesterday was Putin's birthday. It's good that Putin received such a gift. I hope he gets more. Ukrainians are destroying Russia's illegal infrastructure [in the occupied Crimea]".[33][34]

Aftermath

The Ministry of Transport of Russia announced that the ferry service across the Kerch Strait, which operated before the construction of the Crimean bridge, was being re-launched.[17] Crimea initially imposed restrictions on the sale of groceries and fuel. Two hours later, it was announced that restrictions were lifted in Sevastopol.[35]

The Crimean Bridge is an important part of the transport connection between Russia and Crimea for the southern theater of operations of the Russo-Ukrainian War. It is expected that the partial destruction of the Crimean Bridge will lead to increased problems with the supply of Russian troops in occupied Crimea and in the entire southern part of Ukraine. In addition, with the closure of the bridge, it becomes more difficult for local residents to leave Crimea, although other ways remain, including ports.[36]

The symbolic nature of the destruction is no less important for the Kremlin. The opening of the bridge in 2018 was considered one of Putin's greatest achievements. After the Russian invasion of 2022, the structure was one of the most protected objects.[37] A week before the explosion, a decree was signed on the annexation of four Ukrainian regions by Russia, after which Russia continued to threaten Ukraine with nuclear weapons in the event of an attack on objects in the annexed territories.[36]

On 8 October, the Russian foreign ministry published a video showing that the bridge was partially reopened to light vehicles. Trucks must take the ferry while trains have resumed according Russian state media.[38][3] President Putin has ordered the security of the bridge to be placed under the control of Russia's Federal Security Service. The Deputy Prime Minister of Russia has said that the damaged portions of the bridge will taken down and repairs are to commence immediately. On 9 October, it is planned, that divers will check on the bridge for any underwater damage. [39]

Investigation

By order of Putin, a special commission was created to investigate the circumstances of the explosion, including representatives of the Ministry of Emergency Situations, the Ministry of Transport, the FSB, the Ministry of Internal Affairs and the National Guard. The Investigative Committee opened a criminal investigation into the explosion.[40] Representatives of the special services drew attention to the shift that failed to detect the truck with explosives, despite the complexes installed at the entrance to the bridge to watch for suspicious cargo.[41]

The National Anti-Terrorism Committee of Russian has reported:

"At 06:07 Moscow time today [03:07 GMT], an explosion was set off at a cargo vehicle on the motorway part of the Crimean bridge on the side of the Taman peninsula, which set fire to seven fuel tanks of a train that was en route to the Crimean peninsula. Two motorway sections of the bridge partially collapsed."[42]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b "Crimea bridge blast damages key Russian supply route; 3 dead". The Washington Post. Archived from the original on 8 October 2022. Retrieved 8 October 2022.
  2. ^ "Russian authorities say 3 killed in Crimea bridge blast". The San Diego Union-Tribune. Archived from the original on 8 October 2022. Retrieved 8 October 2022.
  3. ^ a b c "Crimea bridge partly reopens after huge explosion - Russia". BBC News. 8 October 2022. Archived from the original on 8 October 2022. Retrieved 8 October 2022.
  4. ^ Hunder, Max; Landay, Jonathan (8 October 2022). "Blast hits Crimea bridge crucial to Russia's war". Reuters. Archived from the original on 8 October 2022. Retrieved 8 October 2022.
  5. ^ "Russia-Ukraine updates: Crimean bridge fire caused by truck explosion, Russian officials say". DW. Archived from the original on 8 October 2022. Retrieved 8 October 2022.
  6. ^ Kramer, Andrew E.; Schwirtz, Michael (8 October 2022). "Fiery Damage to Crimea Bridge Imperils Russian Supply Route". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Archived from the original on 8 October 2022. Retrieved 8 October 2022.
  7. ^ Dorosh, Svetlana (15 May 2018). Путин за рулем 'Камаза' открыл Крымский мост. Главные факты о проекте [Putin drives Kamaz and opens the Crimean bridge: Main facts about the project] (in Russian). BBC. Archived from the original on 3 August 2020. Retrieved 8 October 2022.
  8. ^ Dorosh, Svetlana (15 May 2018). Крымский мост Путина и его подводные течения [Putin's Crimean Bridge and its undercurrents] (in Russian). BBC. Archived from the original on 14 May 2022. Retrieved 8 October 2022.
  9. ^ Romashenko, Sergey (23 December 2019). По Крымскому мосту открылось движение поездов [Rail traffic opens on the Crimean Bridge] (in Russian). Deutsche Welle. Archived from the original on 23 April 2022. Retrieved 8 October 2022.
  10. ^ Крымский мост частично обрушился после взрыва. На нем горели цистерны с топливом [Crimean bridge partially collapses after explosion; fuel tanks on fire] (in Russian). BBC. 8 October 2022. Archived from the original on 8 October 2022. Retrieved 8 October 2022.
  11. ^ Santora, Marc (19 August 2022). "A bridge to Crimea is a vital Russian link, and a potential Ukrainian target". The New York Times. Archived from the original on 8 October 2022. Retrieved 8 October 2022.
  12. ^ Kropman, Vitaliy (8 October 2022). Взрыв на Крымском мосту мог стать результатом диверсии [Explosion on Crimean bridge may have been result of sabotage] (in Russian). Deutsche Welle. Archived from the original on 8 October 2022. Retrieved 8 October 2022.
  13. ^ Sabbagh, Dan; Harding, Luke (16 August 2022). "Ukraine aiming to create chaos within Russian forces, Zelenskiy adviser says". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 24 August 2022. Retrieved 8 October 2022.
  14. ^ На Крымском мосту произошел взрыв, провалилось дорожное полотно [Explosion occurs on Crimean bridge: roadbed collapses, traffic stopped]. istories.media. Retrieved 8 October 2022.
  15. ^ a b "Взорван Крымский мост: что известно" [The Crimean bridge was blown up: what is known]. Agentstvo (in Russian). 8 October 2022. Retrieved 8 October 2022.
  16. ^ "Massive blast cripples parts of Crimea-Russia bridge, in blow to Putin's war effort". CNN. 8 October 2022. Archived from the original on 8 October 2022. Retrieved 8 October 2022.
  17. ^ a b c "Взрыв на Крымском мосту. Движение остановлено. Часть автомобильного моста обрушилась. Это произошло на следующий день после дня рождения Путина" [Explosion on the Crimean bridge. Traffic stopped. Part of the road bridge collapsed. It happened the day after Putin's birthday]. Meduza (in Russian). Archived from the original on 8 October 2022. Retrieved 8 October 2022.
  18. ^ "Security Service of Ukraine behind explosion on Crimean bridge". Ukrainska Pravda. Archived from the original on 8 October 2022. Retrieved 8 October 2022.
  19. ^ "Украинские СМИ со ссылкой на источник сообщили, что взрыв на Крымском мосту – операция СБУ" [Ukrainian media, citing a source, reported that the explosion on the Crimean bridge was an SBU operation.]. Meduza (in Russian). Archived from the original on 8 October 2022. Retrieved 8 October 2022.
  20. ^ "Вибух на Кримському мосту: Загинули щонайменше троє людей" [Explosion on the Crimean Bridge: At least three people were killed]. novosti.dn.ua (in Ukrainian). Archived from the original on 8 October 2022. Retrieved 8 October 2022.
  21. ^ "Crimean bridge: Explosion is 'the beginning', says Zelensky adviser". BBC News. 8 October 2022. Archived from the original on 8 October 2022. Retrieved 8 October 2022.
  22. ^ a b Paul Adams (8 October 2022). "Crimean bridge: Excitement and fear in Ukraine after bridge blast". BBC. Archived from the original on 8 October 2022. Retrieved 8 October 2022.
  23. ^ "Key Bridge Linking Crimea to Russia Damaged as Truck Bomb Goes Off; Ukraine Says 'What's Next, Russkies?'". News18. 8 October 2022. Retrieved 8 October 2022.
  24. ^ "Міноборони про Кримський міст: "Що далі на черзі, росіяни?"" [The Ministry of Defense on the Crimean bridge: "What's next, Russians?"]. Громадське радіо (in Ukrainian). Archived from the original on 8 October 2022. Retrieved 8 October 2022.
  25. ^ "Кримський міст: Міноборони України та голова "Укрпошти" потролили росіян" [Crimean bridge: The Ministry of Defense of Ukraine and the head of "Ukrposhta" trolled the Russians]. DSnews.ua (in Ukrainian). 8 October 2022. Archived from the original on 8 October 2022. Retrieved 8 October 2022.
  26. ^ Max Hunder and Jonathan Landay (8 October 2022). "Blast damages Crimea bridge central to Russia war effort". Reuters. Archived from the original on 8 October 2022. Retrieved 8 October 2022.
  27. ^ Why is the Kerch Bridge important for Russia and Ukraine? (Deutsche Welle)
  28. ^ Merlyn Thomas (8 October 2022). "Crimea bridge: Russia ramps up security after blast". BBC. Retrieved 9 October 2022.
  29. ^ Петренко, Роман. ""І?": російська влада і пропагандисти реагують на руйнування Кримського мосту" ["And?": Russian authorities and propagandists react to the destruction of the Crimean bridge]. Українська правда (in Ukrainian). Archived from the original on 8 October 2022. Retrieved 8 October 2022.
  30. ^ Peter Beaumont (8 October 2022). "Impact of Kerch bridge blast will be felt all the way to the Kremlin". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 8 October 2022. Retrieved 8 October 2022.
  31. ^ Merlyn Thomas (8 October 2022). "Crimea bridge: Russia ramps up security after blast". BBC. Retrieved 9 October 2022.
  32. ^ ""С днем рождения, Путин?" Рейнсалу: Эстония приветствует подрыв Крымского моста" ["Happy birthday, Putin?" Reinsalu: Estonia welcomes the blowing up of the Crimean bridge] (in Russian). Delfi. Archived from the original on 8 October 2022. Retrieved 8 October 2022. {{cite news}}: |archive-date= / |archive-url= timestamp mismatch; 9 October 2022 suggested (help)
  33. ^ a b "Gorące komentarze po wybuchu na moście Krymskim. "W Rosji Putina rozpada się wszystko" | Wiadomości Radio ZET" [Hot comments after the explosion on the Crimean Bridge. "Everything in Putin's Russia is falling apart" | News Radio ZET]. wiadomosci.radiozet.pl (in Polish). 8 October 2022. Archived from the original on 8 October 2022. Retrieved 8 October 2022.
  34. ^ "Взрыв на Крымском мосту. Что о нем говорят в России и Украине Первые реакции" [The explosion on the Crimean bridge. What they say about it in Russia and Ukraine. First reactions]. Meduza (in Russian). Archived from the original on 8 October 2022. Retrieved 8 October 2022.
  35. ^ "В Крыму начали вводить ограничения на продажу продуктов и топлива" [In the Crimea began to impose restrictions on the sale of food and fuel]. Important Stories (in Russian). Retrieved 8 October 2022.
  36. ^ a b Beaumont, Peter (8 October 2022). "Impact of Kerch bridge blast will be felt all the way to the Kremlin". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 8 October 2022. Retrieved 8 October 2022.
  37. ^ "Destroy the Crimean Bridge: how it is protected, how much it is needed and what it will give Defense Express". defence-ua.com (in Ukrainian). Archived from the original on 10 July 2022. Retrieved 8 October 2022.
  38. ^ Nick Paton Walsh (8 October 2022). "Putin faces more grim choices after blast hits his prized Crimea bridge". CNN. Retrieved 9 October 2022.
  39. ^ Merlyn Thomas (8 October 2022). "Crimea bridge: Russia ramps up security after blast". BBC. Retrieved 9 October 2022.
  40. ^ "Вибух на Кримському мосту: в Росії відкрили кримінальне провадження" [The explosion on the Crimean bridge: criminal proceedings were opened in Russia]. ТСН.ua (in Ukrainian). 8 October 2022. Archived from the original on 8 October 2022. Retrieved 8 October 2022.
  41. ^ "Росіяни не можуть зрозуміти, як вантажівка з вибухівкою заїхала на Кримський міст" [The Russians cannot understand how a truck with explosives drove onto the Crimean Bridge]. ТСН.ua (in Ukrainian). 8 October 2022. Archived from the original on 8 October 2022. Retrieved 8 October 2022.
  42. ^ Hugo Bachega; Patrick Jackson (8 October 2022). "Crimea bridge partly reopens after huge explosion - Russia". BBC. Retrieved 9 October 2022.

External links

Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=2022_Crimean_Bridge_explosion&oldid=1114970256"