The strategic Kerch bridge that connects occupied Crimea with Russia has been partially reopened, a day after it was damaged in an attack, according to the Russian government.
“Motor transport on the Crimean Bridge has been restored … on the most outer right lane,” Russian Deputy Prime Minister Marat Khusnullin said late Monday, according to state-owned newswire TASS.
Khusnullin also said that Moscow will build a temporary bridge to fix the strategic crossing.
“We will most likely build a temporary 250-meter bridge” which will be used to “lift [the damaged Kerch bridge’s] spans with heavy cranes,” Khusnullin said on Monday evening, according to TASS.
The Kerch bridge, which provides a crucial overland supply route for troops, weapons and fuel to support Russia’s forces in southern Ukraine, was hit by two drones in the early hours of Monday morning.
In a cryptic poem posted by the Ukrainian security services, Kyiv appeared to claim responsibility for the attack.
The bridge was also the target of an attack during Ukraine’s counteroffensive last October.
