No traffic on main bridge linking Crime and Russia

The flow of cars on the main bridge linking the Crimean Peninsula with Russia has been halted following reports of an explosion.

According to the Health Ministry of the Krasnodar region of Russia, located at the eastern end of the bridge, an incident on this bridge left two people dead, and their daughter suffered injuries.

The Crimean Governor, who was annexed by Russia in 2014, announced the bridge's closure early Monday without providing a specific reason.

Local news sources quoted residents as hearing explosions before dawn, though no official confirmation has been given.

The extent of damage from the blast remains unclear, but Governor Sergei Aksyonov said he expected railway traffic on the bridge to resume within hours.

Photos posted by a channel in Telegram linked to Russian security services described a lane on the road to the broken bridge and a black car with heavy damage to the front.

The bridge, which lies in the Karchi Strait, suffered injuries even in the month of October last year when the bomb truck exploded there, and several months of repairs were needed before it returned to full operation.

The bridge serves as a main road and rail traffic route, playing an important role in Russia's military operations in Ukraine.

Opened in 2018, the 19 - mile [19 km] bridge is the main ground link between Russia and the Crimean Peninsula.

While Andriy Yusov, a spokesman for Ukraine's military intelligence department, declined to comment on the incident, he stressed that <x0gadorul is used by the Russians as a major logistical centre for moving forces and assets deep into Ukraine's territory. Every logistical issue complicates things for invaders”.

On Monday, Natalia Humenick, spokesperson for Ukraine's southern military command, said the incident on the Crimea Bridge could potentially be a deliberate act of provocation orchestrated by Moscow. / REL