Damage Inflicted To Russia By Explosion On Crimean Bridge

The strike was not only a military defeat for the Kremlin.

Damage from the explosion on the bridge over the Kerch Strait on October 8 is estimated at 200-500 million rubles, the All-Russian Union of Insurers says. It does not specify what exactly this amount includes, so it is impossible to assess the objectivity of this amount. Krym.Realii found out what the real damage from the failure of the Kerch bridge could be.

The explosion and fire on the Kerch Bridge were registered in the morning of October 8. Russian sources soon showed a destroyed section of the automobile bridge span.

This bridge has served Russia for four years. Russian authorities had built it unilaterally - without consulting Ukraine and in defiance of its position. Thus, Russia tried to integrate Crimea into its space and establish regular transport links with the peninsula.

Since Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, the Kerch Bridge began to play a key military role. Russia regularly moved military equipment and personnel across it to capture the southern regions of Ukraine.

According to military experts and British intelligence, the strike on the Kerch Bridge should significantly reduce Russian military activity on the southern front, where the Ukrainian Armed Forces are now conducting a counteroffensive. The AFU have not publicly claimed responsibility for the Kerch Bridge incident.

Not just a military purpose

In addition to its military function, the Kerch Bridge also plays a significant economic role. It is the only source of supplies of food, fuel and other resources to the peninsula after their supply from mainland Ukraine is discontinued.

Its failure directly affects the economic situation not only in Crimea but also in neighboring Russia.

Approximate damage from the explosion and damage to the bridge shortly after the incident was announced in the All-Russian Union of Insurers. According to them, they are talking about 200-300 million rubles. It's not known what damage they specifically mean. It is difficult to judge how fair this amount is.

"The main damage due to the explosion on the Kerch Bridge is indirect and depends on changes and slowdowns in logistics. Therefore, it can now be assessed only roughly. In addition, the explosion on the bridge significantly affects not only the economy but also the military logistics of the aggressor. It is challenging to determine the financial amount of losses for the Russian authorities," Boris Babin, an expert of the Crimea Reintegration Association and former Ukrainian presidential representative in Crimea, explained to Krym.Realii.

Russian authorities have not yet officially announced the damage.

Krym.Realii found out that shortly before the explosion, the Russian authorities paid several hundred million rubles for the maintenance and security of the Kerch Bridge.

How much does security cost

According to the Russian portal of public procurement, the federal institution "Management of Federal Highways Taman Federal Road Agency" spent more than 600 million rubles, including for the security of the road part of the bridge across the Kerch Strait in March.

According to the documentation of the tender, this service was purchased under the presidential decree "On establishment of an integrated system of transport security" and the federal law "On transport security".

As part of the tender, the bridge was to be equipped with security systems: an alarm system, access control and management system, warning and power supply means, as well as a shoreline security system. The federal state enterprise "Security Directorate of the Ministry of Transport of Russia" provided the services within this tender.

How much it will cost to repair the damaged portions of the bridge is difficult to say at this point. Russian authorities have not voiced such estimates.

According to the Russian government procurement portal, the maintenance of the Kerch Strait Bridge this year cost Russia 13 million rubles.

One should add costs of the resumption of Kerch ferry operation to the damage inflicted by the explosion. The operation of the ferry was terminated shortly after the bridge was put into operation.

Who is to blame?

Krym.Realii reported earlier the way Russia maintained the security of the Kerch bridge. The Black Sea water area around the Kerch Bridge has been enveloped in military facilities since the beginning of its construction. The Russian authorities have been taking combat vessels and radio systems there to protect it from any possible threats.

All of its land sections were fenced off and checkpoints were established at the approaches to the bridge - on the Kerch, Taman and Tuzla banks - to inspect vehicles and citizens.

According to Russian authorities, the bridge is guarded by the army and special services, warships and special units of the Russian Black Sea Fleet. Nevertheless, statements about the invulnerability of the object have been refuted by reality.