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| Crimea bridge partly reopens after huge explosion - Russia | Crimea bridge partly reopens after huge explosion - Russia |
| (32 minutes later) | |
| Watch: Fire and smoke seen on Crimean bridge after explosion reported | Watch: Fire and smoke seen on Crimean bridge after explosion reported |
| Watch: Fire and smoke seen on Crimean bridge after explosion reported | Watch: Fire and smoke seen on Crimean bridge after explosion reported |
| Light traffic has resumed on Russia's only bridge to Crimea, hours after a huge blast brought down sections of the roadway. | Light traffic has resumed on Russia's only bridge to Crimea, hours after a huge blast brought down sections of the roadway. |
| The blast on Europe's longest bridge - a symbol of Russia's annexation of the peninsula from Ukraine in 2014 - killed three people, investigators say. | The blast on Europe's longest bridge - a symbol of Russia's annexation of the peninsula from Ukraine in 2014 - killed three people, investigators say. |
| The victims were in a nearby car when a lorry blew up, Russian officials claim. | The victims were in a nearby car when a lorry blew up, Russian officials claim. |
| The railway part of the bridge - where oil tankers caught fire - has also apparently reopened. | The railway part of the bridge - where oil tankers caught fire - has also apparently reopened. |
| On Saturday evening, Russia's foreign ministry published a video, seemingly showing cars using the bridge. | |
| The rail and road crossing was opened in 2018 and is a key supply route for Russia's invasion of Ukraine. | The rail and road crossing was opened in 2018 and is a key supply route for Russia's invasion of Ukraine. |
| An adviser to Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky, Mykhailo Podolyak, did not directly claim Ukrainian responsibility but wrote: "Crimea, the bridge, the beginning. | An adviser to Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky, Mykhailo Podolyak, did not directly claim Ukrainian responsibility but wrote: "Crimea, the bridge, the beginning. |
| "Everything illegal must be destroyed, everything stolen must be returned to Ukraine, everything occupied by Russia must be expelled." | "Everything illegal must be destroyed, everything stolen must be returned to Ukraine, everything occupied by Russia must be expelled." |
| Ukraine's defence ministry compared the bridge explosion to the sinking of Russia's Moskva missile cruiser in April. | Ukraine's defence ministry compared the bridge explosion to the sinking of Russia's Moskva missile cruiser in April. |
| "Two notorious symbols of Russian power in Ukrainian Crimea have gone down," it tweeted. "What's next in line?" | "Two notorious symbols of Russian power in Ukrainian Crimea have gone down," it tweeted. "What's next in line?" |
| The Ukrainian government itself simply tweeted: "Sick burn." | The Ukrainian government itself simply tweeted: "Sick burn." |
| Russia's foreign ministry said: "The Kiev [Kyiv] regime's reaction towards destruction of civilian infrastructure is a testament to its terrorist nature." | Russia's foreign ministry said: "The Kiev [Kyiv] regime's reaction towards destruction of civilian infrastructure is a testament to its terrorist nature." |
| Excitement and fear in Ukraine after bridge blast | Excitement and fear in Ukraine after bridge blast |
| It is hard to exaggerate the significance, and symbolism, of seeing the bridge - which was opened by President Putin - on fire. | It is hard to exaggerate the significance, and symbolism, of seeing the bridge - which was opened by President Putin - on fire. |
| Russia has used the bridge to move military equipment, ammunition, and personnel from Russia to battlefields in southern Ukraine. | Russia has used the bridge to move military equipment, ammunition, and personnel from Russia to battlefields in southern Ukraine. |
| As such, Ukrainian authorities said it was a legitimate target, as they vow to retake the peninsula. | As such, Ukrainian authorities said it was a legitimate target, as they vow to retake the peninsula. |
| Any attack on Crimea, where the Russian army has a massive presence, will be seen as another massive humiliation for the Kremlin. | Any attack on Crimea, where the Russian army has a massive presence, will be seen as another massive humiliation for the Kremlin. |
| The bridge is particularly hated by Ukrainians. Social media in Ukraine erupted in celebration on seeing the fire - one day after Russian President Vladimir Putin turned 70. | The bridge is particularly hated by Ukrainians. Social media in Ukraine erupted in celebration on seeing the fire - one day after Russian President Vladimir Putin turned 70. |
| Local authorities in Crimea organised a ferry service between the Russian mainland and the peninsula, for heavier vehicles that can't use the partially-reopened bridge. | Local authorities in Crimea organised a ferry service between the Russian mainland and the peninsula, for heavier vehicles that can't use the partially-reopened bridge. |
| Scorch marks could be seen on the railway bridge on Saturday | Scorch marks could be seen on the railway bridge on Saturday |
| Russia's National Anti-Terrorism Committee said: "At 06:07 Moscow time today [03:07 GMT], an explosion was set off at a cargo vehicle on the motorway part of the Crimean bridge on the side of the Taman peninsula, which set fire to seven fuel tanks of a train that was en route to the Crimean peninsula. | Russia's National Anti-Terrorism Committee said: "At 06:07 Moscow time today [03:07 GMT], an explosion was set off at a cargo vehicle on the motorway part of the Crimean bridge on the side of the Taman peninsula, which set fire to seven fuel tanks of a train that was en route to the Crimean peninsula. |
| "Two motorway sections of the bridge partially collapsed." | "Two motorway sections of the bridge partially collapsed." |
| Crimean parliamentary speaker Vladimir Konstantinov blamed the explosion on "Ukrainian vandals, who have finally managed to reach their bloody hands to the Crimean bridge". | Crimean parliamentary speaker Vladimir Konstantinov blamed the explosion on "Ukrainian vandals, who have finally managed to reach their bloody hands to the Crimean bridge". |
| Russian President Vladimir Putin was briefed about the "emergency" on the bridge and ordered a government inquiry, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said. A criminal investigation is also under way. | Russian President Vladimir Putin was briefed about the "emergency" on the bridge and ordered a government inquiry, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said. A criminal investigation is also under way. |
| The 19km (12-mile) bridge across the Kerch Strait, which cost £2.7bn to build, was opened four years after Moscow illegally annexed Crimea. | The 19km (12-mile) bridge across the Kerch Strait, which cost £2.7bn to build, was opened four years after Moscow illegally annexed Crimea. |
| It was hailed by Russian media as "the construction of the century". Russian officials previously claimed it was well protected from threats from air, land or water. | It was hailed by Russian media as "the construction of the century". Russian officials previously claimed it was well protected from threats from air, land or water. |
| The crossing is more than 100 miles from Ukrainian-held territory. One explosives expert told the BBC the fire was probably not caused by a missile. | The crossing is more than 100 miles from Ukrainian-held territory. One explosives expert told the BBC the fire was probably not caused by a missile. |
| "The lack of obvious blast / fragmentation damage on the road surface suggests that an air-delivered weapon was not used," he said. | "The lack of obvious blast / fragmentation damage on the road surface suggests that an air-delivered weapon was not used," he said. |
| He said it was possible that "a well-planned attack from below may have been the cause". | He said it was possible that "a well-planned attack from below may have been the cause". |
| "I suspect explosives on the road bridge and train deck were initiated near simultaneously using coded radio command," he added. | "I suspect explosives on the road bridge and train deck were initiated near simultaneously using coded radio command," he added. |
| Kyiv has the momentum in this conflict. The army has reclaimed large swathes of territory, forcing Russian troops to abandon long-held positions. | Kyiv has the momentum in this conflict. The army has reclaimed large swathes of territory, forcing Russian troops to abandon long-held positions. |
| Amid the losses, Moscow has begun a chaotic military mobilisation - which led to rare anti-war protests in Russia, and a huge exodus of military-age men. | Amid the losses, Moscow has begun a chaotic military mobilisation - which led to rare anti-war protests in Russia, and a huge exodus of military-age men. |
| On Russian TV talk shows, presenters and studio guests have been expressing increasing doom and gloom about the situation. | On Russian TV talk shows, presenters and studio guests have been expressing increasing doom and gloom about the situation. |
| If the attack were carried out by Ukraine, it would not be the first time it has targeted Crimea. | If the attack were carried out by Ukraine, it would not be the first time it has targeted Crimea. |
| Last month, Ukraine claimed responsibility for a series of air strikes on Crimea - including an attack on Russia's Saky military base. | Last month, Ukraine claimed responsibility for a series of air strikes on Crimea - including an attack on Russia's Saky military base. |
| The $3.7bn (£2.7bn) bridge links southern Russia with the territory it annexed in 2014 (2018 report) | The $3.7bn (£2.7bn) bridge links southern Russia with the territory it annexed in 2014 (2018 report) |
| The $3.7bn (£2.7bn) bridge links southern Russia with the territory it annexed in 2014 (2018 report) | The $3.7bn (£2.7bn) bridge links southern Russia with the territory it annexed in 2014 (2018 report) |
| Additional reporting by Alexandra Fouché, BBC News, London | Additional reporting by Alexandra Fouché, BBC News, London |