A drone strike on an ammunition depot in Crimea has resulted in civilian evacuations and disruptions to transportation, as stated by Russian authorities.
Sergei Aksyonov, the Russian-appointed governor of occupied Crimea, accused Ukraine of being behind the attack without providing evidence.
Mr. Aksyonov reported that local residents living within a five-kilometer radius of the blast site were being evacuated.
Additionally, rail services across the Kerch bridge have reportedly been suspended.
Initially, Russian authorities temporarily closed the bridge to traffic but later reopened it for cars. However, a subsequent update from the Moscow-appointed government stated that road traffic was again halted until further notice.
According to Mr. Aksyonov, the infrastructure facilities in Crimea's Krasnogvardeysky district were the target of the attack, but preliminary information indicated no casualties or damage, as per his Telegram post.
It's important to note that the BBC has not been able to independently verify the details of the attack.
The area where the strike occurred is over 160km (100 miles) away from the Kerch bridge.
The Kerch bridge, also known as the Crimea bridge, was inaugurated in 2018 and serves as a critical road and rail link between Russia and Crimea—a region annexed by Russia in 2014 but considered Ukrainian territory by the international community.
The bridge has come to symbolize Russian occupation and is a significant supply route for Russian forces in southern Ukraine.
Earlier, on a separate incident on Monday, an explosion on the bridge resulted in two deaths and road damage, but the railway line, which runs parallel to it, was unaffected.
The Kremlin held Kyiv responsible for the Monday attack, labeling it a "terrorist" act. In response, Russian President Vladimir Putin pledged retaliation, accusing Ukraine of initiating a "senseless" and "cruel" attack.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has stated that the Crimea bridge is a legitimate target. Speaking on Friday, he emphasized the necessity to "neutralize" the bridge, as it serves as a daily supply route for ammunition to support the ongoing conflict. President Zelensky referred to the bridge as an "enemy facility," and therefore, it is considered a target by Kyiv.
Addressing the Aspen security conference in the US via video, he explained, "So, understandably, this is a target for us."
The alleged attack on Monday was the second significant incident on the Kerch bridge within the past year. In October 2022, the bridge was partially closed due to a massive explosion, and it was fully reopened in February.
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