A Ukrainian cruise missile attack is forcing the closure of the massive 10-mile bridge linking Russia to Crimea – which cost Putin £3billion to build
- Russian air defense claims they shot down a missile near the border crossing
- The £3bn, ten-mile crossing was built in 2014 after Putin annexed Crimea
A Ukrainian cruise missile attack has forced the temporary closure of the £3billion, 10-mile bridge linking Russia and Crimea.
Russian air defense forces have claimed they shot down a missile near the border crossing built on Putin’s orders after he annexed Crimea following a 2014 invasion.
According to one report, it was an interception by the 31st Air Defense Division north of Taman on the Russian side of the bridge.
It was obviously shot down on the Kerch or Crimean side of the mammoth bridge.
“There were no damages or casualties, the wreck fell into the waters of the Sea of Azov,” reported Telegram channel Rybar.
Russian air defense forces have claimed they shot down a missile near the border crossing built on Putin’s orders after he annexed Crimea following a 2014 invasion
According to one report, it was an interception by the 31st Air Defense Division north of Taman on the Russian side of the bridge
Queues formed as traffic on the bridge was disrupted in both directions as a result of the attack
The broadcaster hinted that Ukraine had deployed an “upgraded missile from an S-200 complex, modified to attack along a ballistic trajectory.”
“This range is about 400 km.” [250 miles].’
The crossing is Putin’s main link to the Crimean Peninsula.
Russian wartime broadcasters today speculated that Ukraine will make a renewed effort to destroy the bridge seen as Putin’s vanity project to link Russia to the occupied peninsula, which belongs to Ukraine under international law.
Queues formed as traffic on the bridge was disrupted in both directions as a result of the attack.
Putin is trying to encourage Russian tourists to visit Crimea’s traditional summer playground.
The head of Russia’s puppet government in Crimea, Sergei Aksyonov, said: “Air defense forces shot down a cruise missile in the Kerch area.” No damage or casualties.
“I ask everyone to remain calm and only rely on trustworthy sources of information.”
It comes as Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s forces have been making “steady gains” in besieged Bakhmut.
An update from the British Ministry of Defense Intelligence on Saturday morning said that after a “lull in June 2023” in the last week, Bakhmut was “back the scene of some of the most intense fighting on the front lines”.
The statement added, “Ukrainian forces have made steady advances in both the north and south of the Russian-held city.” to attack, to fight.
“The Russian leadership almost certainly finds it politically unacceptable to give in to Bakhmut, which is symbolic as one of the few Russian achievements in the last 12 months.” However, there are most likely few additional reserves that could be allocated to the sector. “