Two killed in reported Crimean bridge attack as Russia label incident as 'terrorist attack'

The bridge, which connects Crimea and Russia, has reportedly been attacked for a second time

A bridge connecting the occupied territory of Crimea to Russia has reportedly been attacked, killing two people and damaging a carriageway in what Russia has called a “terrorist attack”.

Traffic on the Kerch bridge connecting Crimea to Russia's mainland was halted amid reports of explosions in the early hours of Monday morning. The ferry and train services from Crimea to Russia were also temporarily halted, but were re-started later in the morning.

Russia’s Investigative Committee called it a “terrorist attack” and accused Ukrainian special forces of carrying it out. The committed said a criminal investigation had been launched. Moscow said the attack had used unmanned drones on the water's surface.

This picture reportedly shows damaged parts of an automobile link of the Crimean Bridge connecting Russian mainland and Crimean peninsula over the Kerch Strait not far from Kerch, Crimea. Traffic on the key bridge connecting Crimea to Russia’s mainland was halted on Monday, after reports of explosions that Crimean officials said were from a Ukrainian attack.

The incident comes as updates are expected on Ukraine’s grain deal deadline brokered last year by the United Nations and Turkey, which is set to expire today unless Russia agrees to an extension.

Russian foreign ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova claimed the attack had been carried out by Ukraine with the assistance of the US and UK.

"Decisions are made by Ukrainian officials and the military with the direct participation of American and British intelligence agencies and politicians,” she said. "The US and Britain are in charge of a terrorist state structure."

Vladimir Konstantinov, the Russian-installed head of the Crimean parliament, blamed the attack on the "terrorist regime in Kyiv", saying it had targeted a "civilian" facility.

The health ministry in Russia's Krasnodar region, which lies at the eastern end of the bridge, said two people were killed in an unspecified accident on the bridge and their daughter was injured.

The governor of Crimea, which was annexed by Russia in 2014, announced the closure early on Monday, but did not specify the reason. Reports said local residents heard explosions before dawn, but there was no confirmation.

The extent of the damage was not immediately clear, but governor Sergei Aksyonov said he expected rail traffic on the bridge to resume within several hours.

The Telegram channel Baza, which has ties to Russia's security services, posted photos showing one lane on the bridge's roadway torn up and a black car with its front end appearing to be shattered.

The region’s governor, Vyacheslav Gladkov, confirmed on Telegram that a mother and father from Russia's Belgorod region had been killed, while their daughter was also “moderately injured”.

The 12-mile bridge that was opened in 2018 is the main land connection between Russia and the Crimean peninsula.

The bridge that spans the Kerch Strait was damaged in October by a truck bomb and required months of repairs before resuming full service. It carries both road and rail traffic and is an important supply artery for Russia's war in Ukraine.

Andriy Yusov, a spokesman for Ukraine's military intelligence department, declined to comment on the incident, but 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."