Russians temporarily close Kerch Bridge to traffic as drones reported over Sevastopol
The Kerch Bridge in Russian-occupied Crimea was temporarily closed to traffic on the night of 26-27 June, with the occupation authorities claiming interception of drones.
Source: Krymsky Most: Operativnaya Informatsiya (Crimean Bridge: Operational Information), a Telegram channel which reports on the situation at roads approaching the Kerch Bridge; Mikhail Razvozhayev, the Kremlin-appointed "governor" of Sevastopol
Details: The occupation authorities reported the suspension of traffic on the Kerch Bridge at around 04:00 (Kyiv time).
Razvozhayev claimed that Russian forces were "repelling a Ukrainian Armed Forces attack" in Sevastopol, with air defence systems and mobile fire groups working.
He said "two UAVs have been downed in the Balaklava district".
The occupation authorities noted that the traffic on the Kerch Bridge had been suspended for around two hours overnight.
Previously: The Russian occupation authorities closed the Kerch Bridge to traffic from 23:51 on 25 June until 06:14 on 26 June. By the morning, 2,500 vehicles were waiting to go through checks on both sides of the crossing.
Background:
- Ukrainian Defence Minister Mykhailo Fedorov recently predicted that temporarily occupied Crimea will soon become isolated due to Ukrainian drone strikes.
- On the night of 22-23 June, explosions were heard across temporarily occupied Crimea, numerous fires broke out, and the Kerch Bridge was closed to traffic until the morning.
- Following those events, Russian leader Vladimir Putin instructed his government and the Defence Ministry to "take measures to reduce the consequences of Ukrainian attacks" on infrastructure to zero.
- Satellite images taken on 24 June showed traffic jams stretching for over 10 km at the approaches to the Kerch Bridge.
- The Russian occupation authorities have declared a regional state of emergency in Crimea and the city of Sevastopol.
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