Russia halts movement across Kerch Strait ferry
Illustrative photo (Photo: Getty Images)
On Friday evening, January 5, Russia halted movement through the Kerch Strait ferry service, according to the Telegram channel Crimea.Realities.
In particular, the closure was announced by the occupying head of the Russian Ministry of Transport in Crimea, Mykola Lukashenko. However, the reason behind the halt in traffic is not specified.
The ferry service connects the occupied Crimean peninsula with the mainland part of Russia.
Situation in Crimea
The illegally constructed Crimean Bridge, built by the occupiers, has been targeted at least twice.
In October 2022, powerful explosions occurred on the bridge, causing significant damage. The Head of the Security Service of Ukraine (SSU), Vasyl Maliuk, confirmed it was an operation by their special service.
Additionally, in July 2023, there was another attack on the Crimean Bridge, resulting in the destruction of two sections. The Head of the SSU, Maliuk, also confirmed the involvement of their special service in this attack, executed with the help of Sea Baby drones.
Overall, there's a growing frequency of explosions heard in Crimea. Ukrainian defenders have conducted numerous operations on the peninsula and in the Black Sea, destroying Russian bases, warehouses, and ships.
For instance, on December 20, explosions were heard in Crimea. Later reports claimed that the center of the long-range space communications of the Russian Aerospace Forces was struck, leading to destruction.
Furthermore, on December 21, explosions were heard in Kerch, and smoke was observed near the Industrial Highway. There lies the large military-industrial plant Albatross, which according to recent data, was abandoned and not in use.
During that time, the occupiers also closed the Crimean Bridge, claiming a supposed air defense operation.
