Officials in Moscow blamed Ukraine for an apparent attack Monday on a key bridge that connects the occupied Crimean Peninsula with southern Russia and has become a symbol of President Vladimir Putin’s rule.
It is the second time in less than a year that the 12-mile bridge across the Kerch Strait has come under assault. Russia’s Investigative Committee described Monday’s incident as a “terrorist attack” and claimed it was carried out by Ukrainian special forces using naval drones. Ukraine has not publicly claimed responsibility, though its security services indirectly hinted in a cryptic message on Telegram of its involvement.
The bridge carries car and train traffic and is an important structure for transporting military equipment and personnel to battlefields in Ukraine. At least two people were killed in the attack.
Russian state media reported that train traffic was continuing in both directions, though the road section of the bridge remains closed. Ukraine eventually claimed responsibility for a truck bomb attack on the same bridge in October that damaged the car and train parts of the bridge. The bridge took months to repair.
Andriy Yusov, a spokesman for Ukraine’s military intelligence, declined comment on Monday’s incident. But he said “the peninsula is used by the Russians as a large logistical hub for moving forces and assets deep into the territory of Ukraine. Of course, any logistical problems are additional complications for the occupiers.”
Developments:
- The governor of Russia’s Belgorod region, Vyacheslav Gladkov, said the two people killed in an explosion on the bridge over the Kerch Strait on Monday were the parents of a child who was injured in the blast. Russia illegally annexed Ukraine’s Crimea region in 2014. The area is a popular vacation spot for Russians and the attack on the bridges comes at the height of the vacation summer season.
Trump doubles down on claim he could end war in one day
Former President Donald Trump defended his recurring claim that he could forge a Ukraine peace within 24 hours of returning to the White House, saying he would tell Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to make a deal. Trump, speaking on Fox News’ “Sunday Morning Futures,” said he has a good relationship with Zelenskyy and Russian President Vladimir Putin.
“I would tell Zelenskyy, ‘No more. You got to make a deal.’ I would tell Putin, ‘If you don’t make a deal, we’re going to give him a lot. We’re going to (give Ukraine) more than they ever got if we have to.’ I will have the deal done in one day. One day,” said Trump, who has a sizeable lead in early polling for the Republican presidential nomination.
Zelenskyy has dismissed Trump’s claim, saying Trump likely would pressure Ukraine into ceding territory to Russia, a concession Zelenskyy remains unwilling to make.
Russia says it will let grain deal expire
A United Nations and Turkey-brokered agreement that enables Ukraine to export grains and other foodstuffs via its Black Sea ports was set to expire Monday if Russia does not agree to extend it. Ahead of the deadline, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Russia was cancelling the agreement because it was not being allowed to export its food and fertilizers.
“As soon as the Russian part is fulfilled, the Russian side will immediately return to the implementation of this deal,” Peskov said. He said the attack on the bridge would have no impact on the deal. A Russian blockade of Ukrainian Black Sea ports could keep Kyiv from exporting millions of tons of grain. According to the European Commission, Ukraine accounts for about 10% of the world wheat market, 15% of the corn market and 13% of the barley market.
U.S. national security adviser Jake Sullivan said Sunday he “can’t predict what Vladimir Putin will do” about about the deal but if Moscow pulls out, “the rest of the world will take a look at that and say that Russia has turned its back on ensuring that the countries of the Global South and Africa and Latin America and Asia can get the food they need at affordable prices.”
Ukraine counteroffensive expected to make more gains
A senior Estonian defense intelligence official said that a combination of factors indicated that Ukraine’s counteroffensive against Russia “could soon expect greater success.” Colonel Margo Grosberg, commander of the Estonian Defense Forces Intelligence Center, told his country’s media that Russia was running out of reserve soldiers, its generals were reporting resupply problems and that Ukrainian forces were destroying Russian command posts and logistics centers in areas bordering Bakhmut as they pushed east.
