Lauren Jones
On the 8th of October 2022, an explosion on the Crimean Bridge and the subsequent fire damaged the bridge.
What happened?
Early in the morning of Saturday 8 October 2022, there was an explosion on the Crimean Bridge. The explosion “severely damaged” the bridge, causing damage to both the road and rail segments of the bridge that led to part of the road bridge falling into the sea.
The explosion also caused an oil tanker train on the railway bridge to ignite, causing an “inferno that burned for at least an hour”.
A couple from St Petersburg and a lorry driver were killed in the explosion.
The explosion reduced the capacity of the bridge, which is the only road bridge between Russia and Crimea. Trains were reportedly running again by the evening of 8 October, and the road was open to road traffic in one direction according to a video posted by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Russia on Twitter.
Who caused the explosion?
It remains unclear exactly who is responsible for the explosion and how it was caused. Russia reportedly suggested that the explosion was caused by a truck bomb in what Vladimir Putin named an “act of terrorism, aimed at destroying critically important civilian infrastructure of the Russian Federation”.
A video circling on social media shows what could be a vessel under the bridge during the blast, which some people believe could also be responsible. The identity of the responsible party remains unknown at this point.
Why is the Crimean Bridge so significant?
The Crimean Bridge, also known as the Kerch Bridge or the Kerch Strait Bridge, is the only road bridge that connects Russia and Crimea. Construction began in 2015, and the bridge was opened in 2018.
“It also stood as an important political symbol”
It has been an important supply route for Russian military equipment during the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
It also stood as an important political symbol, commissioned after the Russian Invasion of Ukraine and the Annexation of Crimea in 2014.
Aside from existing as a permanent physical connection between Russia and Ukraine, the bridge is a key supply route for Russia. It is also seen by many as a symbol of Russia’s unwanted presence and occupation.
The damage to the Crimean Bridge is perceived by some as the fight against Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and attempted annexation of the Ukrainian Oblasts of Donetsk, Luhansk, Zaporizhzhia, and Kherson on 30th September 2022.
“The explosion and subsequent fire are undoubtedly noteworthy events”
Although Ukraine has not claimed responsibility for the explosion on the Crimean Bridge, Ukrainian officials didn’t hesitate to express their feelings on Twitter, with Ukraine’s official government account tweeting “sick burn” in response to the explosion.
While perhaps more of a morale boost than a significant strategic victory, the explosion and subsequent fire are undoubtedly noteworthy events in the course of the Russian-Ukrainian War.
Featured image courtesy of RonaldPlett on Pixabay. Image license found here. No changes were made to this image.
Lauren Jones
Lauren is an Au Pair and a recent languages graduate. She is an aspiring journalist and is particularly interested in politics, social issues, and the arts.