A fire broke out on the Crimean Bridge across the Kerch Strait, which connects occupied Crimea with Russia, on the morning of October 8, 2022, partially destroying two road spans and halting traffic, Suspilne reported.
Russian version
Russian media initially reported that the fire had started due to the “ignition of a tank in the tail of a freight train.” Russia’s National Antiterrorism Committee later said a truck had been blown up on the road section of the bridge, setting fire to seven fuel tank cars on a train heading to Crimea.
Two road spans partially collapsed, Russian-installed Crimean head Sergei Aksyonov said. Russia’s Investigative Committee said three people had been killed and opened a criminal case.
Partial reopening
By the evening, Aksyonov said cars and buses could use the surviving lane after inspection, and Russian authorities said rail traffic would resume. President Vladimir Putin ordered the creation of a government commission and tasked the FSB with protecting the crossing.
Ukrainian reaction
Ukrainian officials did not claim responsibility. Mykhailo Podolyak, an adviser to the head of the Presidential Office, posted a mocking reaction on Twitter, while Ukraine’s Security Service (SBU) declined to comment.
The 19-kilometre bridge, built by Russia after its annexation of Crimea and opened in 2018, is a key supply route for Russian forces in southern Ukraine and a symbol of Moscow’s control of the peninsula.
Sources
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