The basis for this decision is Putin's decree on introducing a heightened level of response in Crimea and the Krasnodar Territory of the Russian Federation.
This was stated by the Russian “Minister of Transport” of occupied Crimea, Alexander Ovdienko, Radio Liberty reports.
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“The basis for this decision is the decree of the President of the Russian Federation on the introduction of a heightened level of response in Crimea and the Krasnodar Territory of Russia, including the decision of the Anti-Terrorist Commission of the Temryutsky District, the order of the head of the Krasnodar Territory of the Russian Federation on the indefinite introduction of the “yellow” level of terrorist threat in the region, the Temryutsky District and the Kerch Bridge,” he said.
Ovdiyenko urged to have original documents with you for quick manual inspection.
The Kerch Bridge provides the main traffic to occupied Crimea from Russian territory, and is also used for military supplies to the peninsula.
“Not the same effect”: the Navy explained why the Crimean Bridge has not yet been destroyed
What is happening with the Crimean Bridge
- Since the beginning of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, the Crimean Bridge has been attacked twice. In October 2022, a truck carrying explosives exploded on the bridge, destroying several spans of the road. In July 2023, the bridge was attacked by naval drones. After both attacks, traffic on the bridge was temporarily stopped.
- The Ministry of Defense said that Ukraine is not blowing up the bridge so that the Russians can escape from the peninsula. At the same time, the GUR advised people in Crimea not to use the bridge.
- The SBU has also repeatedly noted that the Crimean Bridge is a legitimate military target for Ukraine. It was its drones that first hit this structure in 2022.
- The British publication The Guardian wrote, citing sources in the Ukrainian special service, that the GUR is preparing a third – “inevitable” – attack on the city of Kerch in 2024. Ukraine's Permanent Representative to the UN Serhiy Kyslytsya also hinted at the destruction of the Crimean Bridge.
- Commenting on the provision of ATACMS long-range missiles to the Ukrainian Armed Forces, Ben Hodges noted that they could be used for precision strikes against Russian headquarters, logistics and enemy artillery on the front line and in occupied Crimea. “I don't know, using ATACMS against the Kerch Bridge is their best use. They would need so many of them, and I think the Ukrainian General Staff and General Budanov have other plans for the Kerch Bridge,” Hodges noted.