Understand why the Crimeira bridge is so important for Russia

Crimea’s main bridge connecting the peninsula to Russia was hit by two attacks on Monday, according to several reports. The Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) and naval forces were responsible for the attack, according to a source.

The Kerch Strait Bridge is strategically important because it links Russia’s Krasnodar region to the Crimean Peninsula, which was illegally annexed by Russia from Ukraine in 2014.

It also holds huge symbolic importance for Russia, which built the 19km bridge — the longest in Europe — at a cost of around $3.7 billion. It was the physical expression of Russian President Vladimir Putin’s aim to dominate Ukraine and link it to Russia forever.

On the day it opened, Putin led a triumphant convoy over the bridge. Ukrainians criticize the structure, which is reminiscent of the Russian occupation.

In October, the bridge was partially destroyed when a tanker truck exploded and damaged a large section of the road. The Kremlin was quick to blame Kiev and Putin claimed it was an act of “sabotage” by the Ukrainian security services. Moscow quickly repairs the bridge after the explosion.

The bridge is a critical artery for supplying Crimea with its daily needs and supplies for the military, as well as fuel and goods for civilians. Russian military convoys regularly use the bridge to help with the full-scale invasion of Ukraine — transporting vehicles, armor and fuel.

If the Russian military’s use of the bridge is impaired, its supply lines to forces in southern Ukraine will become more tenuous.

Russia used the Crimean railways to transport supplies to forces in Kherson, and several railway centers in Crimea and Kherson came under attack from long-range Ukrainian rockets. Rail traffic on the bridge continued to operate on Monday (17), albeit with delays, according to a video on social media, a Russian official and Russian state media.