Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a decree strengthening the defenses of the only bridge linking annexed Crimea to the Russian mainland, after a massive explosion early Saturday severely damaged its structure.
Here’s what led to it
The explosion: A massive explosion severely damaged the only bridge connecting the annexed Crimea to the Russian mainland, causing parts of Europe’s longest bridge to collapse. At least three people were killed, according to Russian officials.
Ukrainian leaders celebrate: Although they did not claim responsibility, senior Ukrainian officials publicly cheered the bridge explosion. The secretary of Ukraine’s Security and National Defense Council posted a provocative birthday message to Putin and the postal service announced stamps commemorating the explosion. In Kiev, residents posed for selfies in front of a billboard depicting the burning bridge.
The damage: Maxar satellite images captured damage to the Kerch Strait bridge on Saturday, shortly after an explosion rocked the only direct road and rail link between annexed Crimea and mainland Russia.
The explosion caused parts of the bridge to collapse, although Russian transport authorities restarted rail service and allowed vehicles to use some undamaged parts of the road on Saturday night.
Some cross the restored bridge: Russian authorities rushed to investigate the explosion and restore partial service to the bridge’s parallel rail and road structures. At night, limited car traffic resumed on undamaged parts of the bridge and train service resumed. The blast disrupted major transport links, however, and Russian authorities planned to use truck ferries.
Repair work begins: On Saturday, Russian Deputy Prime Minister Marat Khusnullin said that lights on the Crimean bridge must be restored within the next few hours so that repair work can be carried out 24 hours a day.
Khusnullin added that divers will start work on Sunday to check all supports on the bridge. Once all results are received, a decision will be made to open up traffic on the bridge to buses and heavy vehicles.
Source: CNN Brasil
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