A Ukrainian security official has confirmed that Ukraine was indeed responsible for last night’s Crimean bridge attack. The bridge, which connects Russia and the occupied Crimea peninsula, was badly damaged in the attack.
And this has serious consequences for the war in Ukraine, thinks defense specialist Patrick Bolder of the Center for Strategic Studies in The Hague. Especially since Ukraine openly admits to attacking the bridge, he thinks. “Ukraine is usually silent,” he says. “So this is a slap in the face for Putin.”
“This is a slap to Putin”
Especially since Crimea is still a holiday destination for Russian tourists, who probably won’t consider it safe after the attack, Bolder says. “After all, this is the second time the bridge has been hit,” he says. “But it’s particularly bad news for the Russian war effort, because there are only two roads from Russia to Crimea. This Crimean bridge, or the famous land bridge across southern Ukraine».
Without alternatives
With the Crimean Bridge damaged, the Russians are forced to send more traffic across the land bridge, and that route is within Ukraine’s long-range munitions range. “So it’s a strategic setback for Putin,” Bolder says.
Stresses that the Crimean bridge cannot simply be repaired. In October, the bridge was also attacked, which severely damaged the railway section of the bridge. According to Bolder, the repair took months and even now he still wonders whether or not the bridge is completely finished. “I wonder if the bridge is fully operational again,” he says. ‘Now one of the two lanes to Crimea itself has been affected, so the capacity has been halved. And that wasn’t resolved in a few days either.”
Answer
The Russian reaction is already within the usual picture, says Bolder. For example, there is already talk of a “terrorist act” committed with “the help of the West”. The Russians have also ramped up their drone and missile strikes into the heart of Ukraine, something Bolder says is common after a Ukrainian hit. “And this is certainly one.”
Source: BNR
Sharon Rock is an author and journalist who writes for 24 News Globe. She has a passion for learning about different cultures and understanding the complexities of the world. With a talent for explaining complex global issues in an accessible and engaging way, Sharon has become a respected voice in the field of world news journalism.
