Crimean Bridge Explosion And Collapse: What Is Known By Now

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This morning, on October 8, a powerful explosion was heard on the Crimean bridge, which provoked a large-scale fire and destruction. There is panic among the inhabitants of the occupied peninsula, and the Russian authorities, meanwhile, began to look for those involved.

See all the details related to the explosion on the Crimean bridge in the material of RBC-Ukraine.

Massive fire and destruction

Information about the destruction on the Crimean bridge began to spread after 6 am. Soon, the first photos and videos appeared on the internet, where you can see burning fuel tanks and the damaged highway.

Even later, it became known that the passage through the Crimean bridge was closed.

“Work is underway on the possible launch of a ferry crossing,” said Nikolai Lukashenko, acting “Minister of Transport”.

In the end, after some time, Lukashenko said that the weather still did not okay the preparation of the crossing.

“The ferry crossing is being prepared to organize stable work. Weather conditions make their own adjustments. The weather today does not allow anything at all,” said the so-called “Minister of Transport”.

Russia's reaction

Meanwhile, President of the Russian Federation Vladimir Putin ordered the Prime Minister to form a government commission to find out the causes of the incident, and promptly eliminate the consequences on the Crimean bridge.

The heads of the Ministry of Emergency Situations and the Ministry of Transport of the Russian Federation, according to Russian media, went to the scene of the incident.

“The reaction of the Kyiv regime to the destruction of civilian infrastructure testifies to its terrorist nature,” said Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova.

Russia’s version

“Today at 6:07 a.m., a truck was blown up on the automobile part of the Crimean bridge from the side of the Taman Peninsula, resulting in a blast of seven fuel tanks of a train heading towards the Crimean Peninsula,” the National Anti-Terrorist Committee of the Russian Federation reported.

The NAC also stated that after some time two road spans collapsed near the bridge, but the arch over the navigable part was not damaged.

Russian propagandist Vladimir Solovyov released a video showing the possible moment of the explosion on the Crimean bridge.

In the video, you can see the alleged explosion of a truck, as a result of which the fire expanded on the tanks.

There is another video on the internet taken from a different angle. Here you can also see the moment of the explosion.

Forecast for repairs, queues at gas stations, and panic

The Crimean occupation “authorities” announced the organization of a land corridor through the occupied territories of Ukraine, and the Spokesman for the Russian President Dmitry Peskov said that it is not yet possible to give forecasts regarding the timing of the restoration of the Crimean bridge.

Meanwhile, in the occupied Crimea, the locals massively went for fuel, and the “authorities” assure that all gas stations are operating normally.

The so-called “Ministry of Industrial Policy of Crimea” announced a restriction on the sale of goods in grocery stores — 3 kilograms per person. Later, the representative of the occupation authorities Oleg Kryuchkov denied this information and traditionally assured that “there is no panic”.

At the same time, “governor” of Sevastopol Mikhail Razvozhaev assures that the fuel supply will be enough for 40 days, and there is enough food. But the city is still introducing a limited sale of products, and they will not pour gasoline into canisters.

Ukraine's reaction

According to the adviser to the head of the Office of the President of Ukraine Mykhailo Podolyak, everything illegal that the occupation authorities of Russia brought to the Crimea should be destroyed, what had been stolen should be returned to Ukraine, and everything Russian should be expelled.

“The missile cruiser Moskva and the Kerch bridge — two infamous symbols of the Russian authorities in the Ukrainian Crimea — have been destroyed. What's next, Russians?” writes the press-center of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine.

SBU special operation?

According to RBC-Ukraine, citing sources in the law-enforcement agencies, the blowing up of the Crimean bridge could have been a special operation of the SBU.

The state agency does not officially comment on its involvement in these events, but hints at it.