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A crucial bridge between Russia and Ukraine has caught fire in a spectacular explosion.
A fuel train burst into flames at the intersection built by Vladimir Putin as a key link to the area he invaded in 2014.
The only bridge between Crimea and mainland Russia has been crucial for the Russian military to supply supplies for Putin’s war in Ukraine.
Ukraine has previously threatened to target the bridge and has also targeted Russian logistics in recent weeks.
Photos show how the bridge between Russia and Crimea is ablaze this morning after an explosion
The cause of the fire is not yet clear, but Ukraine has been focusing on Russian logistics in recent weeks
The blast on the Kerch Bridge came at 3am GMT today as Ukraine continues its counter-offensive against Russian forces in the south and east of the country.
Footage shows the railway bridge going up in flames and the road bridge next to it partially collapsing.
Witnesses claimed the massive explosion could be heard from miles away when a train went up in flames in the middle of the bridge.
The cause of the fire is not yet known, but according to Russian state television, a fuel tank was on fire on the bridge.
Russian officials said they were dealing with an “emergency” on the bridge with the train on fire.
A Russian Telegram station said: “It is likely that an improvised explosive device hidden in one of the passing vehicles was detonated.”
Videos showed the massive inferno on the bridge – opened in 2018 – that has long threatened to target the Ukrainians.
Comments on a video said, “Looks like something flew into the bridge” and, “They detonated it.”
Russia initially admitted that a fuel storage tank caught fire at 6 a.m. local time, but it was unclear whether a bomb or missile had triggered the ignition.
Oleg Kryuchkov, assistant to the Kremlin-appointed head of annexed Crimea, said: “According to preliminary information, a fuel storage tank is on fire….
‘Navigable arches were not damaged.
‘It is too early to talk about causes and effects.
‘Work is underway to put out the fire.’
According to the first reports, both the road section of the cross and the track section were damaged.
Several drivers repeated a comment that ‘something is on the road’.
Local comments on video suggested an ‘explosion’ as if it were a bomb or missile, but there was no immediate confirmation.
The Russian-controlled Crimean Railways said: ‘A fuel tank at the tail of a freight train caught fire.
“The locomotive with several carriages has been taken to Kerch station.”
The bridge runs from Crimea to the Russian Krasnodar region.
If it is out of action, it will hit Putin’s supply routes to the area he conquered eight years ago.
Ukraine has become more ambitious in recent days by predicting that they will retake the peninsula.
The pro-Russian Telegram channel Rybar reported:
‘There was an explosion on one of the parts of the Crimean Bridge around 6 am.
“According to official reports, a fuel tanker has caught fire.
“Road authorities and the Ministry of Emergency Situations are working at the site of the fire and traffic has been temporarily halted.
“However, photos and video footage show one of the vehicles being put out of action, which could not have happened in any way due to a simple fire.
“It is likely that an improvised explosive device hidden in one of the passing vehicles was detonated.”
Russian sources speculate about an underwater drone responsible for the attack on the Crimean Bridge – long seen as a prize target by the Ukrainians.
Pro-Kremlin war reporter Andrey Rudenko said: “What force did the explosion have to submerge a span of the bridge?
“It is entirely possible to assume that the main explosion was underwater.
“At the beginning of the year, there were reports that the West had provided Ukraine with underwater kamikaze drones.”
The apparent attack came the day after Vladimir Putin’s 70th birthday.
He called for immediate revenge against Kiev.
“However, I am sure that what has happened now will have been… [officially] declared a disaster [not caused by Ukraine].
But then Russia will “do the right thing”.
“It is necessary to answer in such a way that the earth burns under the feet of these creatures.”
The blast came as a new Russian general was reportedly put in charge of Putin’s “special military operation.”
Though not officially announced, Army General Sergey Surovikin has taken command, reports say.
“For more than thirty years, Surovikin’s career has been plagued by allegations of corruption and brutality,” the British Ministry of Defense said in June.
The conversation was recorded with two men in a car on the bridge.
“We’d better leave it alone, I guess,” one said.
“What are we doing?”
“I have young children.”
One of the men calls an Anatoly [Tolya] saying, “I’ll be late, the bridge is on fire.”
Lines of cars were reported on the peninsula, and some drivers were accommodated at Kerch airport.
“A temporary accommodation was set up on the airport site with toilets, tents, food and water.
“Vehicle traffic is currently being diverted to the airport.”
Russia insisted it was a train fire.
“A truck has blown up on the Crimean bridge,” RBC told Russia’s National Anti-Terrorism Committee.
“This led to the ignition of seven of the train’s fuel tanks. Two spans of the bridge partially collapsed.”
Fury was building after the bridge’s destruction under pro-war Moscow commentators.
Vladimir Kornilov, columnist for RIA Novosti’s state media, said: “I know what we are going to hear: it is time to reach the decision-making centers and not leave a single bridge in Kiev intact.
“I would say this too, if it hadn’t been said a million times already.
“One thing is certain: as long as we don’t react harshly to increasingly brutal sabotage by limiting ourselves to empty threats, this sabotage will only intensify and intensify.”
Anton Krasovsky, RT media boss, said: “For the bridge, it is necessary to answer ruthlessly. [Attack] Kiev, Lviv, Odessa, Kharkov, Zhytomyr. Stop being patient!”