Russia plans to restore Crimean Bridge in December

Russian occupation authorities in Crimea are planning to resume the use of both lanes on the right side of the Crimean (Kerch) Bridge, which was damaged in an explosion on 8 October, in December. Initially, only one lane will be open to traffic, and later [in December] both lanes will be in use.

Source: Kryminform (Crimea Inform), a Crimean news outlet, on Telegram

Details: The spans of the Crimean Bridge that were damaged by the explosion have now been dismantled and removed. The installation of new spans is expected to begin in the coming days. The metal structures have been delivered to Kuban (a region in southern Russia). They will be transported to the bridge and assembled on 8 November; traffic will be blocked to enable construction work to take place.

On 5 December, traffic is expected to resume on one of the lanes of the right side of the Crimean Bridge; on 20 December, the second lane will be open as well.

The restoration of the Crimean Bridge will continue past those dates, with debris clearing set to commence on the left side of the portion of the bridge used by car traffic. Though the left side can still be used by cars and buses, an inspection revealed that it has also sustained damage. 

Previously: Media reported that the Russian government has ordered that the Crimean Bridge be repaired by 1 July 2023 at the latest. The bridge sustained major damage in an attack in October 2022.

Background:

• A large fire broke out on the railroad portion of the Crimean Bridge on the morning of 8 October. Russian occupation authorities in Crimea have claimed that a truck has exploded on the Crimean Bridge. The Investigative Committee of the Russian Federation has reported that three people were killed as a result of the explosion.
• Russian proxy officials in Crimea reported on the same day that the movement of cars and buses across the Crimean Bridge had resumed.
• Russian President Vladimir Putin has accused Ukraine’s Security Service of blowing up the Crimean Bridge.
• Russia’s Federal Security Service (FSB) reported that eight people have been detained and, according to the investigators, the Chief Directorate of Intelligence of the Ministry of Defence of Ukraine and Kyrylo Budanov, its head, are responsible for orchestrating the explosion. Vasyl Maliuk, acting head of the Security Service of Ukraine, has stated that Defence Intelligence was not responsible for the explosion on the Crimean Bridge.
• Ukrainska Pravda sources believe that the Security Service of Ukraine (SSU) is behind the explosion on the Crimean Bridge that occurred early on 8 October. The SSU said that it would only comment on its involvement in the explosion following Ukraine’s victory.

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