As reported by the pro-Kremlin news agency Ria Novosti, at 7 a.m. Moscow time (6 a.m. Polish time – ed.) traffic on the Crimean Bridge was temporarily suspended. The suspension lasted 35 minutes.
However, data published by the British “The Independent” show that crossing from Russia in occupied Crimea does not work as it did just a few months ago.
Ukraine-Russia. The Crimean Bridge is practically unused
The daily reports that after repeated attacks Ukrainy na most Moscow restricted movement on a connector built in 2014, which is confirmed by the analysis of Maxar satellite photos carried out by the editorial office and Molfar – the largest private intelligence agency in Ukraine.
Research indicates that the railway line crosses the Kerch Strait it has not been used by the Russian military for over three months. During this period, only one military freight train was seen there – the train was headed 55 fuel tankers and passed through there on February 29.
The Dnieper intelligence agency claims that The Kremlin restricted the use of the bridge after July 17, 2023, when Kiev blew up a section of a road and a railway line. – This is a route used to supply ammunition to the war, and it happens every day and militarizes the Crimean Peninsula – he justified at the time President Volodymyr Zelensky.
Previously, it was supposed to be a bridge over 40 trains a daycurrently there are on average three passenger trains and one freight train, that's why “it can no longer be an effective military target for Ukrainian forces with limited ammunition,” Molfar emphasizes.
Russia changed the transport route. The interview points to a new route
– The decision to stop using the Crimean Bridge to supply Russian forces has become binding with the increase in freight traffic through Taman in the Rostov Oblast – Artem Starosiek, general director of the Molfar agency, told The Independent.
The head of the group warned the authorities in Kiev to do so they now focused their attention on Melitopol, Berdyansk and Mariupol, where Russia is building new railways connecting the occupied regions of Ukraine with Crimea and mainland Russia. They – according to Starosiek – should be the target of further attacks, because they are currently the target “a more serious threat than the closed route on the Crimean Bridge.”
“The new railway line (…) will probably be used by Russian forces in a new offensivewhich – as is commonly known – will start this summer” – writes the British daily.
According to Molfar Agency, the trail includes 63 km of new and approximately 140 km of renovated tracks. These were supposed to be tested by the first team in March. The line is scheduled to be fully completed until the end of the year.
Source: The Independent
Stay updated and become one of over 200,000 followers of our fanpage – like Interia Events on Facebook and comment on our articles there!