Ukraine vs. Russia: The truth behind the Kerch Bridge blast unveiled

In an unprecedented revelation, Ukrainian Deputy Defense Minister Hanna Maliar confirmed on Sunday that Ukraine’s forces had launched an attack on the Kerch Bridge, a key link between Russia and the Russian-occupied Crimea, last year.

This public acknowledgement of Ukraine’s role in the October 2022 attack on the bridge – the only land connection to the annexed Crimea – came through a post on the social media platform Telegram.

Maliar’s post, which marked 273 days since Ukraine’s “first strike on the Crimean bridge to disrupt the logistics for the Russians”, also acknowledged other triumphs in the ongoing conflict. These included the sinking of the Moskva cruiser and the liberation of Snake Island, actions that Russia has consistently declined to associate with a Ukrainian assault.

The blast on the Kerch Bridge, inaugurated by Russian President Vladimir Putin in 2018 and perceived as a crucial transport route for conveying military equipment to Russian soldiers in Ukraine, caused substantial damage. A vehicular explosion was believed to have set off a massive fire, igniting seven oil tankers on a train, leading to the collapse of two car lanes on the immense road and rail structure.

Maliar’s announcement sparked a reaction from Russian state media and officials, leading to Russian foreign ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova branding the Ukrainian government under President Volodymyr Zelensky a “terrorist regime”. Zakharova expressed her condemnation of the attack in an online statement.

Meanwhile, Russia’s Governor Sergei Aksyonov reported that a cruise missile was intercepted near the city of Kerch in Crimea. He reassured that the missile did not cause any damage or casualties. Russian Governor Vasily Golubev also mentioned the downing of a Ukrainian missile in the bordering Rostov region. However, he noted the resulting debris damaged several buildings.

Amid these revelations and ongoing conflict, Polish President Andrzej Duda visited Ukraine alongside his Ukrainian counterpart. Poland, a vocal supporter of Ukraine within NATO since the onset of the conflict, is pushing for “security guarantees” from other alliance members for Kyiv. Duda’s visit preceded the NATO summit scheduled for July 11-12, where Ukraine hopes to receive explicit indications of being incorporated into the US-led military alliance.

Simultaneously, Poland’s defense minister announced the deployment of over 1,000 troops to the country’s east due to concerns over Russia’s Wagner Group fighters’ presence in neighboring Belarus. This strategic move followed the country’s decision to send 500 police officers to secure its border with Belarus amidst a rise in migrant influx.