Crimean bridge blasts: two dead, Russian-installed authorities in Crimea accuse Ukraine of attack. Ukraine's reaction

According to Sergey Aksionov, Russia-installed governor of Crimea, "an emergency happened in the area of the 145th pillar".

"Traffic on the Crimean bridge is stopped: an emergency has occurred in the area of the 145th pillar from the Krasnodar region. Law enforcement agencies and all responsible services are working. I have spoken with the Minister of Transport of the Russian Federation Vitaliy Gennadievich Saveliev, and measures are being taken to restore the situation. We are in touch with our colleagues from Krasnodar region. Deputy Chairman of the Council of Ministers of the Republic of Crimea Igor Mikhailichenko has arrived on the spot," he said.

As of 07:14, Belgorod Region Governor Gladkov confirmed the deaths of two people on the Crimean Bridge. A girl, the daughter of the victims, was also injured.  According to the Baza telegram channel, they were tourists from the Belgorod region, and their car was damaged by the explosion.

In addition, Aksyonov urged residents and visitors to the peninsula to refrain from traveling across the Crimean bridge.

"Given the current situation, I ask residents and guests of the peninsula to refrain from traveling across the Crimean bridge and, for safety reasons, choose an alternative land route through the 'new regions,'" he wrote.

The "governor" of occupied Sevastopol, Mikhail Razvozhayev, also writes about an "emergency".

"An emergency has occurred in the area of one of the pillars of the Krasnodar region. Law enforcement agencies and all responsible services are working. We have talked to Sergei Valerievich Aksionov to coordinate actions. I ask the people of Sevastopol to keep calm. Given the current situation, I ask you to refrain from traveling across the Crimean Bridge and choose an alternative land route through the 'new regions'. As soon as it becomes clear how and when the connection will be resumed, you will receive all the information," he said.

Ukrainian telegram-channel Monitor describes the situation on the Crimean bridge as follows: "And now a brief summary of the situation: There was an explosion on one of the sections of the bridge, traffic is stopped. There is damage, the extent of it is being clarified. An air alert has been declared in Kerch." He also notes that at least one span has been destroyed, and there is information about damage to the second span.

Meanwhile, the Russian Ministry of Transportation denies the information about the damage to the bridge's piers.

"There is damage to the roadway on the spans from the side of Crimea. The span structures themselves are on their supports," the statement said.

Occupation authorities accuse Ukraine of attacking the bridge

"Last night, the terrorist regime of Kyiv committed a new crime - it attacked the Crimean bridge. Kyiv could not but know that the automobile part of the crossing is exclusively a civilian facility. But this has never stopped the terrorists. It will not stop them in the future. They can only be stopped by depriving them of the physical ability to carry out such strikes, as well as by the inevitability of retribution for each such strike," said the "chairman" of the Crimean parliament Konstantinov.

The National Anti-Corruption Committee of the Russian Federation said that the attack on the Crimean bridge was carried out by two Ukrainian surface drones, the Russian propaganda news agency TASS reported. 

Russia's Investigative Committee called the incident a terrorist attack and opened a criminal case "on the fact of a terrorist attack on the Crimean bridge."

"Investigators are identifying individuals from Ukraine's special services and armed forces involved in the terrorist attack on the Crimean Bridge," the Russian Investigative Committee said.

Afterwards, Russian media reported, citing Kremlin spokesman Peskov, that Putin had been briefed on the events concerning the Crimean Bridge. The Kremlin leader instructed them to "manage the traffic flow on the Crimean route" and "arrange repairs on the Crimean bridge." He also listened to reports from the occupying "authorities" of the peninsula and scheduled a meeting for Monday evening.

Peskov did not disclose Russia's response to the bombing of the Crimean Bridge, but he mentioned that the ultimate goal of the special operation would be achieved as a response.

In the meantime, Deputy Head of the Security Council of the Russian Federation, Dmitry Medvedev, made comments about the bridge explosion, urging for terrorist acts against Ukrainians and labeling them as "terrorists."

He stated, "We should destroy their homes and the homes of their relatives. Seek out and eliminate their accomplices, without wasting time on the idea of a trial. However, the most crucial thing is to eliminate the top leaders of these terrorist groups, wherever they may be hiding," in a message shared through telegram channels.

Russian senator Vladimir Jabarov also expressed a similar sentiment, suggesting the capture of Odesa and Mykolaiv to isolate Ukraine from the Black Sea and prevent strikes on the Crimean Bridge.

Photos and video from the scene:

The situation on the Crimean peninsula

A special team of investigators arrived at the scene. 

As of 08:44, the Crimean "operational headquarters" reported that rail traffic had resumed, with the Simferopol-Moscow train heading toward the Krasnodar region. Earlier, at 06:32, rail traffic on the Crimean bridge was temporarily suspended. At the time, Aksyonov said that rail traffic would resume by 09:00.

The railroad track of the bridge was not damaged, says the so-called head of the Crimean parliament Konstantinov. However, tourists are urged to stay in hotels as much as possible.

Instead, the occupation authorities emphasized that bus traffic has been restored to the Yuzhnaya station (the last railway station before the Crimean bridge). Passenger cars will be able to leave Crimea by ferry in the near future, while trucks will be able to leave only through the occupied territories of Ukraine.

"From there, we went by electric train to Temryuk. Transfer again to buses and to your destination. Automobile traffic. Accumulation of cars at the airport "Bagerovo". Issuance of boarding passes and escorted transportation to the ferry. Or an alternative route. Cargo. Alternative route," the statement said.

Afterwards, Russian media reported, citing Kremlin spokesman Peskov, that Putin had been briefed on the events concerning the Crimean Bridge. The Kremlin leader instructed them to "manage the traffic flow on the Crimean route" and "arrange repairs on the Crimean bridge." He also listened to reports from the occupying "authorities" of the peninsula and scheduled a meeting for Monday evening.

Peskov did not disclose Russia's response to the bombing of the Crimean Bridge, but he mentioned that the ultimate goal of the special operation would be achieved as a response.

In the meantime, Deputy Head of the Security Council of the Russian Federation, Dmitry Medvedev, made comments about the bridge explosion, urging for terrorist acts against Ukrainians and labeling them as "terrorists."

He stated, "We should destroy their homes and the homes of their relatives. Seek out and eliminate their accomplices, without wasting time on the idea of a trial. However, the most crucial thing is to eliminate the top leaders of these terrorist groups, wherever they may be hiding," in a message shared through telegram channels.

Russian senator Vladimir Jabarov also expressed a similar sentiment, suggesting the capture of Odesa and Mykolaiv to isolate Ukraine from the Black Sea and prevent strikes on the Crimean Bridge.

The checkpoints of Armyansk, Dzhankoi, Perekop, which connect Crimea with Kherson region, are operating normally, the occupiers say.

The "Minister" of Industrial Policy of Crimea Elena Elekchyan claims that Crimea is provided with fuel, food and industrial goods, and local warehouses have all the necessary supplies.

There is a sufficient supply of gasoline in Sevastopol, there will be no shortage, so there is no need to stock up on fuel. The situation with food is the same, adds the "governor" of the city.

In the morning there was heavy traffic jam in Krasnodar region at the entrance to the Crimean bridge, Ria Novosti reported, citing Yandex.Maps.

There was a traffic jam several kilometers long on the A-290 highway near Taman. Traffic in the opposite direction, from the Crimean Bridge toward Temryuk, was also hampered. However, the approach to the bridge near Kerch was free.

The so-called advisor to the head of the republic, Oleg Kryuchkov, said that the Crimean "authorities" would provide assistance to tourists in connection with the emergency on the bridge, which caused the traffic to stop, and that a land route was planned. He also announced the deployment of a coordination headquarters at the "Ministry of Resorts".

In turn, the authorities of the Temryuksky district of Krasnodar region said that the ferry service between Crimea and Kuban had been suspended. An operational headquarters was formed in the district to coordinate actions.

Baza publishes how law enforcement officers instructed people who were stuck in traffic in front of the bridge: "Either the ferry or home, where else can you go?"

A heavy traffic jam has formed in the Krasnodar region at the entrance to the Crimean bridge, RIA Novosti reports, citing Yandex.Maps.

On the A-290 highway near Taman, there is a traffic jam several kilometers long. Traffic in the opposite direction, from the Crimean Bridge towards Temryuk, is also hampered. At the entrance to the bridge near Kerch, traffic is free.

Ukraine's reaction to the explosions on the bridge in Crimea

Andriy Yusov, spokesman for the Defence Intelligence of Ukraine, said that the Defence Intelligence does not comment on the causes of the events on the Crimean bridge: "Now the whole world is witnessing many kilometers of traffic jams and damaged bridge structures. As for additional comments on the reasons for this, we do not comment. We can only quote the words of the head of the Defence Intelligence of Ukraine Kyrylo Budanov that "the Crimean bridge is a useless structure there".

He noted that due to the destruction of a section of the bridge, the Russians will have problems with logistics.

"Because the peninsula is used by the Russians as a major logistics hub for moving forces and resources deep into the territory of Ukraine. Of course, any logistical problems are additional complications for the occupiers, which create potential advantages for the Ukrainian defense forces," Yusov added.

Instead, Ukrainian Navy spokesman Dmytro Pletenchuk commented on the incident more ironically, saying that it is the holiday season in Crimea, which means that "more people smoke in unspecified places because of the influx of tourists. That's why sometimes something explodes at night."

He also suggested several other "versions": "You know, it could have been simply upgraded to a drawbridge at night. Or, in general, they have repeatedly warned about very soft soils and that such structures cannot be built there, they will not withstand. There may be many reasons for this." 

In turn, the head of the press center of the Southern Defense Forces, Natalia Humeniuk, does not rule out that the damage to the Crimean bridge could be a Russian provocation, as the grain deal expires on July 17.

"It is characteristic that with such a concentration of ships in the area and the general tension over the issue of prolonging the grain deal, creating such provocations, which are immediately reported by the occupation authorities of Crimea, is a typical way for the aggressor country to resolve issues," she said.

According to Humeniuk, the explosions in Sevastopol in the previous days could have been a backdrop for further developments.

"This was the creation of tension and background for further developments. Everything looks like a specifically staged moment when tension is being escalated, there is talk of a possible attack by the Ukrainian Defense Forces, of aggression, and it seems that "poor Crimea will suffer, that Ukraine is behaving too aggressively," the spokeswoman added during the telethon.

The Security Service of Ukraine commented on the events in the style of a Ukrainian folk song: "Nightingale, my dear brother, the bridge has gone to sleep again. But once... twice! PS: The music is folk. The words are by the Security Service of Ukraine".

And the Vice Prime Minister, Minister of Digital Transformation of Ukraine Mykhailo Fedorov posted a video of the bridge and signed it: "Check".

Explosions on the Crimean Bridge: when did they happen?

Residents of the temporarily occupied peninsula complained about explosions on the night of July 17, the Russian service of BBC News noted.

Thus, two explosions were heard at 03:04 and 03:20 local time. They were also heard in different areas of Kerch. Drivers on the bridge were turned around and sent to a "safe distance". 

On July 9, the occupiers claimed to have shot down a missile near Kerch. Traffic on the Crimean bridge was temporarily stopped in both directions.

Explosions on the Crimean Bridge: when did they happen?

Residents of the temporarily occupied peninsula complained about explosions on the night of July 17, the Russian service of BBC News noted.

Thus, two explosions were heard at 03:04 and 03:20 local time. They were also heard in different areas of Kerch. Drivers on the bridge were turned around and sent to a "safe distance". It is likely that at least one span, and most likely even two, were damaged, the newspaper writes.

On July 9, the occupiers claimed to have shot down a missile near Kerch. Traffic on the Crimean bridge was temporarily stopped in both directions.