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 Russian bridge to Crimea attacked infographic
Graphic shows details of Kerch Strait bridge and location of blast.
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UKRAINE

Russian bridge to Crimea attacked

By Phil Bainbridge

October 8, 2022 - A massive explosion on the Kerch Strait bridge – the vital military and civilian supply link between mainland Russia and occupied Crimea over the Kerch Strait across the Black Sea – has caused two road sections to collapse.

The 19km road-and-rail bridge was a flagship political project for Russia as it sought to cement its hold on Crimea, annexed from Ukraine in 2014 after an unrecognised referendum on unification with Russia. Dubbed “Putin’s bridge” by Russians, it has become a hated symbol of Russian occupation to Ukrainians.

For the bridge to overcome treacherous conditions in the region, thousands of pylons were driven into the seabed for stability with space in between to allow strong currents to flow through. The bridge, the longest dual-purpose span in Europe, is designed to carry 40,000 vehicles and 94 trains per day.

Russia’s 2014 annexation of Crimea from Ukraine drew international condemnation and sanctions, but many Russians saw it as restoring Moscow’s rule over a region they regard as being historically Russian.

Sources
PUBLISHED: 08/10/2022; STORY: Graphic News
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