Vladimir Saldo, the Russian governor in Kherson, said the bridge was likely damaged by a Storm Shadow missile attack. According to Russian investigators, four missiles were fired at the bridge.
Crimean governor Sergei Aksyonov says it is looking into whether people can safely cross the bridge again. Repairing the bridge will take weeks, Russian occupier says in Kherson.
Fortifications
According to defense specialist Bolder, the Russians have invested heavily in fortifications in recent months to prevent Ukraine from taking back territory. “And even in Crimea you can see that a lot is being done to stop the Ukrainians,” he says. ‘The counteroffensive is difficult and they may choose to isolate the peninsula rather than conquer it. It feels a bit like that now,’ says Bolder.
There are a limited number of bridges between the Ukrainian mainland and the Crimean peninsula. This bridge connects two areas which are in the hands of the Russian occupiers. The most famous bridge is the Crimean Bridge across the Kerch Strait to the Taman Peninsula in Russia. That bridge was badly damaged in October last year after a fire. “This shows how vulnerable Crimea is to attack. It can become difficult for the people and military in that area to get supplies,’ says Bolder.
Nuclear power plant
President Zelensky says Russia wants to attack Zaporizhia nuclear power plant. They would go out to release radiation. Russia says none of this is true and calls it yet another lie from Ukraine. The nuclear power plant is owned by the Russian military. “This is in line with the picture Russia wants to show us,” Bolder says. “The Russians want to demonstrate that they are the only ones who can guarantee the safety of the plant. This matches the narrative of the Russians, if what Zelensky says is all true.”
Live Blog | Day 484 of the war in Ukraine