2023 Crimean Bridge explosion

{{Infobox event

| title = 2023 Crimean Bridge explosion

| image =

| caption =

| map = {{Infobox mapframe|frame-width=250|zoom=9}}

| partof = the Crimea attacks during the Russian invasion of Ukraine

| perpetrator = Ukraine

| coordinates = {{coord|display=title,inline}}

| date = 17 July 2023

| time = 3:04 a.m.
3:20 a.m.

| timezone = UTC+03:00

| location = Crimean Bridge

| deaths = 2

| injuries = 1

}}

2023 Crimean Bridge explosion was an event during the Russian invasion of Ukraine, on 17 July 2023, at approximately 3:04 a.m. and 3:20 a.m. EEST, when the Ukrainian Navy attacked the Crimean Bridge,{{Cite news |url=https://www.reuters.com/graphics/UKRAINE-CRISIS/CRIMEA/gdvzwrmrlpw/ |title=Sea drones and the counteroffensive in Crimea |website=Reuters|date=17 July 2023 }} with two suicide sea drones, damaging a span of the road bridge. The explosions killed two civilians and injured one.{{Cite web |url=https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/traffic-stopped-crimean-bridge-due-emergency-russian-backed-governor-2023-07-17/ |title=Traffic stopped on Crimean Bridge, reports of blasts |date=16 July 2023 |publisher=Reuters |access-date=16 July 2023 |archive-date=17 July 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230717040917/https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/traffic-stopped-crimean-bridge-due-emergency-russian-backed-governor-2023-07-17/ |url-status=live }} Ukraine later formally admitted to launching the attack.

Incident

= Explosion =

Grey Zone, a pro-Wagner Group Telegram channel, said that explosions were heard at approximately 3:04 a.m. and 3:20 a.m. local time. Russian-installed governor of Crimea, Sergey Aksyonov, stated that an "emergency" occurred near the 145th support on the Russia side of the bridge.{{Cite web |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-66218869 |title=Crimea bridge closed following 'emergency' |date=16 July 2023 |last=Cooney |first=Christy |publisher=BBC News |access-date=16 July 2023 |archive-date=17 July 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230717033721/https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-66218869 |url-status=live }}

= Damage =

The bridge was damaged.{{Cite web |url=https://edition.cnn.com/europe/live-news/russia-ukraine-war-news-07-17-23/h_ecf2d18b7e8823a4e54077c0b2bdf9ce |title=Russian Transport Ministry reports damage to Crimean Bridge |date=16 July 2023 |last1=Pennington |first1=Josh |last2=Stambaugh |first2=Alex |publisher=CNN |access-date=16 July 2023 |archive-date=17 July 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230717122623/https://edition.cnn.com/europe/live-news/russia-ukraine-war-news-07-17-23/h_ecf2d18b7e8823a4e54077c0b2bdf9ce |url-status=live }} According to the BBC, the road surface was damaged, but the supports remained intact. FDD's Long War Journal says "two of the bridge’s four lanes are totally unusable. The adjacent span for the other two lanes was knocked loose but remains on the pier."{{Cite web |url=https://www.longwarjournal.org/archives/2023/07/crimean-bridge-damaged-by-ukrainian-strike.php |title=Crimean Bridge Damaged by Ukrainian Strike |author=JOHN HARDIE |date=17 July 2023 |access-date=20 July 2023 |archive-date=19 July 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230719033828/https://www.longwarjournal.org/archives/2023/07/crimean-bridge-damaged-by-ukrainian-strike.php |url-status=live }}

A source close to Ukrainian intelligence services stated to Meduza that one of the pillars was damaged. The source said that the damaged pillar was the 145th pillar, on the Ukrainian side of the Ukraine–Russia international border.{{cite Q|Q120722812|url-status=live}}

Subsequent assessments revealed that the span had ruptured, with repairs estimating to last until November.{{Cite web |url=https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2023/7/20/ukrainian-push-stalls-russias-command-baulks-food-crisis-looms |title=Ukrainian push stalls, Russia's command baulks, food crisis looms |date=20 July 2023 |last=Psaropoulos |first=John |publisher=Aljazeera |access-date=20 July 2023 |archive-date=20 July 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230720084822/https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2023/7/20/ukrainian-push-stalls-russias-command-baulks-food-crisis-looms |url-status=live }} Nevertheless, the bridge reopened to traffic the next day, albeit with only one lane open.{{Cite web |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-66229533 |title=Ukraine war: Russia says Crimean bridge partially open to cars again |date=18 July 2023 |last=McGarvey |first=Emily |publisher=BBC |access-date=18 July 2023 |archive-date=18 July 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230718015102/https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-66229533 |url-status=live }} The bridge was subsequently closed to both road and rail traffic only a few days later, following an attack on a Russian ammunition dump in Crimea on 22 July.{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/entertainment-arts-66276788|publisher=BBC|date=July 22, 2023|title=Crimea bridge closed after fuel depot hit - Russia|first=Malu|last=Cursino|access-date=22 July 2023|archive-date=22 July 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230722225110/https://www.bbc.com/news/entertainment-arts-66276788|url-status=live}} The bridge was fully reopened on 14 October.{{Cite web |date=2023-10-14 |title=На Крымском мосту открыто движение автомобилей по всем четырем полосам |url=https://www.kommersant.ru/doc/6280333 |access-date=2023-10-14 |website=Коммерсантъ |language=ru}}

= Casualties =

Married couple Alexey and Natalia Kulik from Belgorod were killed, and their 14-year-old daughter Angelina was injured.{{Cite web |url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/world-news/crimea-bridge-traffic-halted-russia-latest-news-today-russia-ukraine-war-latest-news-101689562769979.html |title=Parents killed, child injured in 'emergency' incident at Crimea-Russia bridge; traffic halted |date=17 July 2023 |last=Anand |first=Nisha |work=Hindustan Times |access-date=16 July 2023 |archive-date=17 July 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230717132843/https://www.hindustantimes.com/world-news/crimea-bridge-traffic-halted-russia-latest-news-today-russia-ukraine-war-latest-news-101689562769979.html |url-status=live }}{{Cite web |last=Edwards |first=Josh Pennington, Alex Stambaugh, Brad Lendon, Christian |date=2023-07-17 |title=Ukraine claims responsibility for new attack on key Crimea bridge |url=https://www.cnn.com/2023/07/16/europe/russia-crimea-bridge-intl-hnk/index.html |access-date=2023-08-13 |website=CNN |language=en}} On July 24, Angelina was discharged from the hospital.

Responsibility

The attack was reportedly conducted by Ukrainian forces using Sea Baby{{cite web|url=https://www.pravda.com.ua/eng/articles/2024/01/1/7435326/|title=Sea drones, Elon Musk, and high-precision missiles: How Ukraine dominates in the Black Sea|author=Roman Romaniuk|date=January 1, 2024|website=Ukrainska Pravda}}{{cite web|url=https://mil.in.ua/uk/news/sbu-pokazala-video-urazhennya-krymskogo-mostu-dronamy-seababy/|title=СБУ показала відео ураження Кримського мосту дронами SeaBaby|date=November 25, 2023|website=Ukrainian Military Center|language=uk|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240108162421/https://mil.in.ua/uk/news/sbu-pokazala-video-urazhennya-krymskogo-mostu-dronamy-seababy/|archive-date=January 8, 2024|url-status=live}} marine drones and planned by the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) and the Ukrainian Navy. Mykhailo Fedorov, Ukrainian Minister for Digital Transformation confirmed that naval drones had been used.{{cite web |title=Crimean bridge was struck by "naval drones," Ukrainian minister says |url=https://edition.cnn.com/europe/live-news/russia-ukraine-war-news-07-17-23/index.html |date=17 July 2023 |access-date=18 July 2023 |archive-date=18 July 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230718024151/https://edition.cnn.com/europe/live-news/russia-ukraine-war-news-07-17-23/index.html |url-status=live }} SBU spokesman {{ill|Artem Dekhtyarenko|uk|Дехтяренко Артем Євгенович}} said that further information on the attack would be revealed at the end of the war.{{Cite web |url=https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2023/7/17/crimea-bridge-attack-what-happened-why-is-the-bridge-important |title=Crimea bridge attack: What happened, why is the bridge important? |website=aljazeera.com |access-date=18 July 2023 |archive-date=17 July 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230717175906/https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2023/7/17/crimea-bridge-attack-what-happened-why-is-the-bridge-important |url-status=live }} However, immediately after the attack, Ukrainian Army spokeswoman Natalia Humeniuk denied Ukrainian responsibility.{{Cite web |url=https://www.dw.com/en/ukraine-updates-july-17/live-66250087 |title=Ukraine military says bridge incident may be Russian 'provocation' |website=dw.com |access-date=17 July 2023 |archive-date=17 July 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230717143335/https://www.dw.com/en/ukraine-updates-july-17/live-66250087 |url-status=live }}

Russia's Anti-Terrorist Committee had opened a criminal investigation on the incident.{{Cite news |date=2023-07-17 |title=Ukraine attacked Crimean bridge with surface drones, Russia says |language=en |work=Reuters |url=https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/ukraine-attacked-crimean-bridge-with-surface-drones-russia-says-2023-07-17/ |access-date=2023-07-17 |archive-date=17 July 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230717133953/https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/ukraine-attacked-crimean-bridge-with-surface-drones-russia-says-2023-07-17/ |url-status=live }}

On 21 July, President Zelenskyy said at the Aspen Security Forum about the Crimean Bridge: “This is the route used to feed the war with ammunition and this is being done on a daily basis. And it militarizes the Crimean peninsula…For us, this is understandably an enemy facility built outside international laws and all applicable norms. So, understandably, this is a target for us. And a target that is bringing war, not peace, has to be neutralized.”{{Cite news |date= 2023-07-22 |title= Crimea bridge is legitimate military target: Ukraine's Zelenskyy |language= en |work= alarabiya |url= https://english.alarabiya.net/amp/News/world/2023/07/22/Crimea-bridge-is-legitimate-military-target-Ukraine-s-Zelenskyy |access-date= 2023-07-22 |archive-date= 22 July 2023 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20230722113910/https://english.alarabiya.net/amp/News/world/2023/07/22/Crimea-bridge-is-legitimate-military-target-Ukraine-s-Zelenskyy |url-status= live }}

On 22 July, Ukrainian Defence Minister, Oleksii Reznikov acknowledged, in an interview with CNN, that the Crimea Bridge is a valid target. Asked whether Ukraine would seek to disable the bridge he replied: “It’s normal tactics to ruin the logistic lines of your enemy to stop the options to get more ammunition, to get more fuel, to get more food, etcetera. That’s why we will use these tactics against them.”{{cite web |date=25 July 2023 |title= Ukraine's defense minister says attacks on Crimea will continue, predicts possible NATO entry next year|url= https://edition.cnn.com/2023/07/24/europe/ukraine-defense-minister-oleksii-reznikov-intl/index.html |website= CNN |author1=Sebastian Shukla|author2= Alex Marquardt |author3= Sana Noor Haq |access-date=25 July 2023}}

On 3 August, Ukraine formally admitted to launching the attack, with an official saying that it was proof that the country was more than capable of penetrating Russia's defences.{{Cite web |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-66397227 |title=Ukraine says it launched July attack on bridge to Crimea |date=3 August 2023 |last1=Bubalo|first1=Mattea |last2=Goksedef |first2= Ece|publisher=BBC |access-date=4 August 2023}}

Russia's reaction

File:Transfiguration Cathedral in Odesa after Russian missile attack, 2023-07-23 (51).jpg after airstrikes on the night of 23 July 2023]]

According to reports, emergency services arrived on the scene, including Minister of Transport Vitaly Savelyev and Deputy Chairman of the Council of Ministers of Crimea Igor Mikhailichenko,{{Cite web |url=https://www.cnn.com/2023/07/16/europe/russia-crimea-bridge-intl-hnk/index.html |title=Emergency incident reported on bridge linking Crimea with Russia |date=16 July 2023 |last1=Pennington |first1=Josh |last2=Stambaugh |first2=Alex |publisher=CNN |access-date=16 July 2023 |archive-date=17 July 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230717033602/https://www.cnn.com/2023/07/16/europe/russia-crimea-bridge-intl-hnk/index.html |url-status=live }} and a crisis centre was formed.{{Cite web |url=https://www.cnn.com/europe/live-news/russia-ukraine-war-news-07-17-23/h_018b2a700c13f8798ab3f14857a8324d |title=Crimean Bridge hit by 2 strikes, reports say |date=16 July 2023 |last1=Pennington |first1=Josh |last2=Stambaugh |first2=Alex |publisher=CNN |access-date=16 July 2023 |archive-date=18 July 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230718024208/https://www.cnn.com/europe/live-news/russia-ukraine-war-news-07-17-23/h_018b2a700c13f8798ab3f14857a8324d |url-status=live }}

Later that day, Russian President Vladimir Putin withdrew from a deal that allowed Ukraine to export grain across the Black Sea despite a wartime blockade.{{cite news |date=19 July 2023 |title=Putin tightens grip on Africa after killing Black Sea grain deal |work=Politico |url=https://www.politico.eu/article/africa-beholden-to-russia-after-vladimir-putin-kills-black-sea-grain-deal-ukraine/}}

On the following day, 18 July, Russian forces hit southern Ukraine with airstrikes. Russia's Defense Ministry said that the strikes on Ukrainian port cities of Odesa and Mykolaiv were in retaliation for the Crimean Bridge explosion.{{Cite news |date=2023-07-18 |title=Peskov: Strikes on Odesa were revenge for Crimean Bridge attack |language=en |work=The Kyiv Independent |url=https://kyivindependent.com/kremlin-peskov-odesa-strikes/ |access-date=2023-07-18 |archive-date=20 July 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230720172631/https://kyivindependent.com/kremlin-peskov-odesa-strikes/ |url-status=live }} Ukraine said that Russia was attacking civilian infrastructure linked to grain exports.{{cite news |title=Ukrainian air defenses in Odesa outgunned as Russia targets global grain supply |url=https://edition.cnn.com/2023/07/20/europe/ukraine-air-defenses-odesa-russia-strikes-grain-intl/index.html |work=CNN |date=21 July 2023}}

On 25 March 2024, Lt. Gen. Vasyl Maliuk, head of the SBU, said that Russia doesn't use the Kerch Bridge for munitions anymore due to repeated Ukrainian attacks. He said: “Before our successful strikes [on the bridge], daily traffic ranged from 42 to 46 trains carrying weapons and ammunition ... now there are only four to five per day. Four are passenger trains and one carries general goods.” He said that Ukraine still intends to destroy the bridge.{{cite news |url=https://au.news.yahoo.com/russia-not-using-damaged-crimean-211500884.html#:~:text=Vasyl%20Malyuk%20said%20in%20an,broadcaster%20ICTV%20on%20March%2025.&text=“Before%20our%20successful%20strikes%20%5Bon,and%20one%20carries%20general%20goods.” |author=Kateryna Denisova |title=Russia not using damaged Crimean Bridge to transport weapons — SBU |publisher=The New Voice of Ukraine

|date=25 March 2024 }}

Other reactions

The UK Ministry of Defence believe the bridge has become a 'security burden' to Russia, tying down air defence systems and crews who would otherwise be deployed elsewhere.{{cite web |title=Russia claims key Crimea bridge is fully repaired, but actually it remains limited and a huge 'security burden,' UK intel says | website=Business Insider |url=https://www.businessinsider.com/crimea-bridge-security-burden-for-russia-despite-fixed-claims-uk-2023-10#:~:text=Russia%20said%20the%20Kerch%20Bridge,ferry%2C%20the%20defense%20ministry%20added. |date=19 October 2023}}