Moscow accuses Kiev of being behind “act of terrorism”. The Ukrainian intelligence agency, which had claimed responsibility for an attack on the structure in October, limited its comments to the incident.
(DW) At least two residents of Russia’s Belgorod region died and a child was injured on Monday (17/07) after an explosion damaged one of the sections of the Crimean Bridge, Russian authorities announced.
Described by Moscow as an “act of terrorism”, the incident was allegedly caused by maritime drones, leading to traffic disruption on the main structure connecting the Black Sea peninsula to the Russian mainland.
“Two civilians died: a man and a woman, who were in a car on the bridge,” Russia’s National Anti-Terrorist Committee said. “Their minor daughter was injured.” The investigative committee also accused the Ukrainian secret service (SBU) of being behind the attack.
Likely involvement of Kiev
While there has been no official claim from Kiev, local press reports reinforce the Russian accusation.
“It was difficult to get to the bridge, but we managed in the end,” an unidentified SBU representative told state news agency Ukrinform, stressing that the bridge is a legitimate target for Ukraine as it was built on occupied Ukrainian territory.
According to the same sources, the attack was carried out on Sunday evening by maritime drones that damaged the structure.
The SBU, for its part, limited itself to commenting on the episode: “Once again, the bridge was ‘put to sleep’,” the intelligence agency said on Monday.
Bridge has strategic importance
The Crimean Bridge had already been targeted in October when a Ukrainian truck bomb blew up two of its sections. Initially, Kiev did not take responsibility for the attack. Confirmation, however, came later through a senior Ukrainian official.
The Crimean Bridge is a crucial artery for supplying the peninsula annexed by the Russians in 2014, thus having a strategic importance in the current war in Ukraine. The attack on the structure comes at a time when Ukrainian forces are trying to press a counteroffensive on various sections of the frontline.