Waterborne drones launched a deadly attack on the Kerch Bridge, cutting off the vital supply route between Russia and Crimea claimed by Ukraine, just before a key grain export deal was set to expire, resulting in a civilian couple being killed.
On Monday, Waterborne drones struck the sole bridge connecting Russia to the annexed Crimea peninsula in a deadly attack on a vital supply route claimed by Ukraine’s security services.
The explosion hit the Kerch Bridge, a major conduit for Russia’s troops in Ukraine, just hours before a crucial deal to export Ukrainian grain was to expire.
Kyiv’s navy and SBU security service carried out a “special operation” using seaborne drones, a security service source informed.
Russian authorities said a civilian couple was killed, and their daughter wounded, in the attack on the bridge, which was also damaged last year in a blast that Moscow blamed on Kyiv.
Local officials said traffic had been halted and asked tourists to stay in their lodgings.
News of the attack came as the clock was ticking down on the deal that allows Ukraine to export its grain via the Black Sea, with the agreement set to expire at the end of Monday.
There was no word from talks in Istanbul, where Turkish and UN officials were trying to persuade Russia to agree another extension of the deal that was first signed there in July 2022.
Over the last year, the Black Sea Grain Initiative has enabled the export of more than 32 million tonnes of Ukrainian grain.
But that traffic has come to a halt because of Russia’s refusal so far to renew the deal.
According to data from the JCC, China and Turkey are the main beneficiaries of the grain shipments, as well as developed economies.
Last month, Kyiv began its highly anticipated fightback against entrenched Russian troops after stockpiling Western weapons and building up its offensive forces.
Miroslava Salazar with AFP
