Why Ukraine’s Crimea bridge strike is a problem for Russia
Tom Rogan
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The attack by Ukraine on a major bridge connecting the Russian mainland to Russian-occupied Crimea is a problem for the Kremlin.
Monday’s attack caused significant damage to a section of the Kerch Bridge’s roadway, apparently killing two Russians who were transiting the bridge at the time. Russian officials said one lane of the bridge will reopen for road traffic by Sept. 15 and that the bridge will be fully repaired by November. The bridge’s railway line is unaffected. Still, this is a significant blow to Russian President Vladimir Putin and his government.
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For a start, Russia is well aware that a key objective of Ukraine’s military is the territorial dislocation of Crimea from Russian forces in southern Ukraine. Were Ukraine to achieve that objective, the Kerch Bridge would be the only functional link between Russia and Crimea. Put simply, Russia needs the bridge in reliable operation if it is to sustain its defensive position in Crimea and the Crimean economy successfully.
But the Kerch Bridge also carries significant symbolic value for Russia.
Designed to formalize Russia’s claim of permanent ownership over Crimea, the bridge was opened by Putin personally. This makes the bridge a particularly sensitive topic for the Kremlin, something I learned personally after writing a 2018 article suggesting Ukraine destroy the bridge (I have been told that I am subject to a sealed indictment for incitement of terrorism). By damaging the bridge, Ukraine has thus struck a further blow against Putin’s credibility as the leader holding the initiative in the war. Putin has appeared undeniably vulnerable following Yevgeny Prigozhin’s aborted June coup attempt and Putin’s subsequent meeting with Prigozhin. The images of one of his key prestige projects on fire are not comfortable ones for the former KGB lieutenant colonel.
Which is why Ukraine conducted this attack and why Putin is now promising vengeance.