Long traffic jams reported to and fro Crimea after bridge blast

He said this on Espreso TV. 

"The situation for the occupying Russian forces is really tense now. From the Rostov region, kilometer-long traffic jams can be seen along the Taganrog highway. These are civilian cars and military equipment of the Russian troops. So it is obvious that after the Crimean bridge was damaged, the logistics situation for the occupiers will become more complicated," Zabavin said.

The deputy of the Mariupol City Council added that the Russian forces cannot use the land corridor to Crimea through the occupied territories to its full capacity.

"After the damage to the Crimean bridge, it will be harder for Russian tourists to get to Crimea. They have nothing to do on Ukrainian soil at all. The same applies to invading Russian forces, who also need to get off Ukrainian soil. Even the possibility of a land corridor through the occupied territories will not allow to fully meet the needs of the occupiers," he added.

Anton Gerashchenko, an adviser to Ukraine’s Internal Affairs Ministry, has published a screenshot that shows the 10-km-long traffic jam for people trying to leave Crimea. According to the Russian official data, there are 50,000 tourists in Crimea now.

• On the morning of July 17, explosions occurred on the Crimean bridge, after that the occupation authorities declared an "emergency" and accused the Ukrainian military of the attack. Damage to the roadway was found on the spans, and 2 people were reported dead. Ukraine responded to this.