July 17 (Reuters) – Traffic on the Russian-built Crimean bridge linking the Crimean peninsula with the Russian region of Krasnodar was suspended due to an “emergency,” Russia’s installed governor Sergei Aksyonov wrote on the Telegram messaging app early on Monday.
Aksyonov said that the emergency occurred at the 145th pillar of the bridge from the Krasnodar Territory. He did not give any further details.
RBC-Ukraine news agency reported that an explosion was heard on the bridge.
Russia’s Gray Zone Channel, a Telegram channel affiliated with the Wagner mercenary group, reported two strikes on the bridge at 03:04 am (0004 GMT) and 03:20 am.
Reuters could not independently verify these reports.
There was no immediate comment from Ukraine.
Crimea was annexed by Russia from Ukraine in 2014, but is internationally recognized as part of Ukraine.
The 12-mile (19-km) road and rail bridge was damaged in an explosion last October that the Kremlin said was planned by Ukrainian security forces. Ukraine tacitly acknowledged the attack months later.
Reporting by Lydia Kelly in Melbourne; Editing by Kim Coghill and Michael Perry
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