Traffic on the Crimean Bridge suspended. Russians cannot leave the peninsula

"Car traffic on the Crimean Bridge is temporarily blocked," the Russian authorities announced on Telegram on Thursday morning.

At the same time, they asked all drivers who are on the bridge and in its vicinity to "remain calm and follow the instructions of road safety officers." The statement did not specify the reasons for the suspension of traffic. The blockade has created a traffic jam of cars trying to get out of the peninsula.

Attack on Crimea

The attack on a Russian air defense system near Evpatoria in occupied Crimea on Thursday morning was a joint operation of the Security Service of Ukraine and the navy of that country, Reuters reported, citing sources in the Ukrainian military intelligence service (HUR).

The strike was carried out using missiles and drones, added a Reuters source who spoke on condition of anonymity.

The S-400 Triumf anti-aircraft and anti-missile defense system worth approximately $1.2 billion was destroyed. During the operation, Ukrainian Neptun anti-ship missiles were used, which were recently adapted to attack ground targets, SBU sources told the Hromadske portal.

Residents of Eupatoria and the surrounding area report that several powerful explosions were heard.

Explosions in Crimea

Starting from August 2022, explosions have been reported in Crimea almost every few days. In the case of Ukrainian drone attacks, the Russian occupation administration usually reports that the explosions are allegedly the result of anti-aircraft defense operations or the effective destruction of incoming drones.

The authorities in Kyiv are increasingly admitting to these operations. In early August, Secretary of the Ukrainian National Security and Defense Council (NSDC), Oleksiy Danilov, confirmed that representatives of the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) took part in the attacks on the Crimean Bridge in October last year and in July 2023.

The Crimean Peninsula was annexed by Russia in March 2014 as a result of military intervention and an illegal referendum. Ukraine and the West considered these actions by the Kremlin a violation of international law.