The reason why the Crimean Bridge is constantly being attacked.

With its significant practical and symbolic role, the bridge connecting Russia to the Crimean Peninsula has been repeatedly subjected to attacks allegedly carried out by Ukraine.

On July 17, Mykhailo Fedorov, Ukraine's deputy prime minister and minister of digital transformation, confirmed that unmanned surface vessels (USVs) were used to attack the Crimean Bridge, also known as the Kerch Bridge, which connects mainland Russia to the peninsula annexed by Moscow in 2014, causing significant damage to one span of the bridge.

Western media previously cited sources within the Ukrainian Security Service (SBU) as saying the attack on the Crimean bridge was a "special operation by the SBU and the navy."

This is the second time the Crimean Bridge has been attacked since the conflict in Ukraine erupted in late February 2022. Last October, a large explosion on the Crimean Bridge caused two spans to collapse and killed five people. Russia then accused Ukrainian special forces of a "terrorist attack" against Crimea, although Kyiv did not admit it.

In April 2018, Russia inaugurated a bridge approximately 19 km long, connecting Crimea with the Taman region in southwestern Russia, four years after the annexation of the peninsula. This is the longest bridge in Europe, with a total value of up to $3.7 billion. The railway bridge, running parallel to the road bridge, began operation in December 2019.

Russia declares the Crimean Bridge inviolable.

A panoramic view of the Crimean Bridge connecting the Crimean Peninsula to Russia upon its inauguration in 2018. Video : Euronews

The Crimean Bridge is considered a crucial infrastructure project for President Vladimir Putin. At its inauguration in 2018, Putin drove an orange Kamaz truck flying the Russian flag across the bridge and called the project a "miracle" for Moscow.

"Throughout different historical periods, people have dreamed of building this bridge," Putin said at the ceremony. The bridge has become a symbol of Russia's capacity to undertake large-scale infrastructure projects, as well as the dream of restoring the influence and power of Great Russia.

Since then, the Crimean Bridge has served as a symbol of Russian identity and power on the peninsula, home to approximately 2 million people. The bridge has also become a crucial "barrier" between the Black Sea and the Sea of ​​Azov, which Russia considers to be within its sphere of influence, despite Ukraine's objections.

Crimean Bridge on July 17. Photo: AP

The role of the Crimean Bridge increased significantly when Russia launched its campaign in Ukraine. As the only road and rail link from Russia to the Crimean Peninsula, it became a crucial link in the logistical supply chain for Russia to transport troops, equipment, fuel, and ammunition to support its offensive in Kherson and southern Ukraine.

The campaign helped Russia achieve its goal of establishing a land corridor from Russia to Crimea by annexing four regions—Kherson, Zaporizhzhia, Donetsk, and Lugansk—in order to reduce its dependence on the Crimean Bridge.

Nevertheless, Ukraine still considers the Crimean Bridge a "thorn in its side" and aims to destroy it, while simultaneously attempting to cut off Russia's land corridor. If both goals are achieved, Ukraine could completely isolate Russian forces in Crimea, paving the way for them to regain control of the peninsula.

The bridge suffered a major explosion last October, believed to be caused by a car bomb, which caused two spans to collapse and briefly paralyzed traffic, much to the excitement of Ukrainians.

Location of the Crimean Bridge and the site of the explosion on October 8, 2022. Graphic: Guardian

But Russia focused its efforts on repairing the bridge and allowed traffic to resume within two months, a sign of the importance of the Crimean Bridge to Russia.

As Ukraine launched a major counteroffensive aimed at delivering a decisive blow to Russian forces in the south, the Crimean Bridge continued to be seen as a crucial target, as it could prevent Moscow from sending more troops, tanks, and armored vehicles to the peninsula and reinforcing the southern front.

Currently, Ukrainian forces want to make things as difficult as possible for the Russian forces controlling areas south of the Dnieper River. Russian logistics centers throughout the south have been constantly attacked by long-range weapons supplied to Ukraine by the West. If the Crimean Bridge becomes inoperable, even for a short time, this would further increase the logistical challenges for Russia.

Ukrainian Deputy Defense Minister Hanna Maliar said on Telegram on July 17 that Ukrainian forces had gained an additional 18 square kilometers in the past week, bringing the total area recaptured to 210 square kilometers since the counteroffensive began in June.

Maliar recently also claimed that Ukrainian forces destroyed six Russian ammunition depots in a single day. "We must deliver effective, painful, and precise blows to the enemy, who will sooner or later find themselves short of ammunition and fuel," she said.

Russian officials accuse Ukraine of attacking the Crimean bridge.

The Crimean Bridge was damaged after explosions in the early hours of July 17. Video: Telegram/tvcrimea24

Russian Deputy Prime Minister Marat Khusnullin said it might take until mid-September to partially restore two-way freight traffic on the bridge following the July 17 explosion. Full traffic on the bridge could only be restored in November.

President Putin called the attack a "terrorist act" by Kyiv, vowing to take appropriate countermeasures. Early this morning, Russian troops launched missile and drone strikes on a number of Ukrainian cities, seemingly in retaliation for the attack on the Crimean Bridge.

Observers believe the July 17 attack on the Crimean Bridge was not Ukraine's final attempt to target this iconic structure. As the West transfers increasingly long-range weapons, including Storm Shadow cruise missiles, Ukraine is becoming more capable of launching larger attacks on the Crimean Bridge.

Boris Rozhin, a prominent Kremlin-backed military blogger, said that after the Crimean Bridge was damaged, ferries and large landing ships would transport equipment from Russia to the peninsula, and expressed hope that the bridge would be repaired soon. However, there is no guarantee that it will not be attacked again.

"If the Crimean Bridge continues to be used for any Russian military purposes, it could remain within Ukraine's sights," said Paul Adams, BBC commentator.

Thanh Tam (Based on Washington Post, BBC, WSJ, Hill )

Source link: https://vnexpress.net/ly-do-cau-crimea-lien-tuc-bi-tan-cong-4630539.html