Putin's Prize Bridge Is Bombed

 

by Pa Rock

Citizen Journalist

Bridges can often be vital infrastructure in war, critical links necessary to transport troops, equipment, and supplies between strategic locations and across difficult geographical terrain.  I first realized the importance that bridges could play in warfare when I watched the movie, "Bridge Over the River Kwai," back in the 1950's. Today, although I don't remember much about that film, I can still conjure up images of the Japanese troop train slowly unraveling off of the exploding bridge and falling into the ravine below - and, of course, I can still whistle the theme song for the movie!

"Bridge Over the River Kwai" was a largely fictional account of an operation by Allied forces in Burma (Thailand) during World War II, but it still came to mind yesterday when there was an attack on a major bridge in Europe, a truck-bombing that was more than likely a response to the current Russian invasion of Ukraine.

In a previous attack on Ukraine, back in February and March of 2014, Russian Special Forces rushed in and seized the Crimea region, a largely ethnic Russian portion of Ukraine.  Russian leader Vladimir Putin claimed that he was "reunifying" a land that was already essentially Russian with Russia itself.  Much of the world imposed economic sanctions against the Russian government, but the stolen territory has remained under Russian occupation and control since 2014.

After the seizure and quick annexation of Crimea, Putin immediately set out to physically connect his stolen territory with Russia by building a bridge to connect the two land masses across a small stretch of the Black Sea.  The project, which became known as the "Kerch Strait Bridge" was completed and opened to the public in 2018.  Putin, himself, presided at the Grand Opening which connected Russia and Crimea by a four-lane highway as well as a train-rail system.  The new structure is twelve miles long - the longest bridge in Europe.

The Kerch Strait Bridge is the primary way that Russia keeps its troops in southern Ukraine supplied with troop provisions and military equipment.

Yesterday a truck exploded on that bridge stopping traffic for hours and throwing thick smoke and flames into the air for much of that time.   The bridge was partially reopened late in the day.  Part of it had collapsed as a result of the bombing, so it will be weeks before the important war transport artery is back to full capacity.  

It was not a postcard sight, nor was it an image that would strengthen Russian troop morale.  While the Ukrainian government did not take credit for the truck bombing, they also did not seem distressed that it had happened - and many Ukrainians reacted in a celebratory manner.  Russia's reaction was to intensify shelling in southern Ukraine.

But regardless of who ordered and carried out the bombing, it was a significant loss for Putin and Russia, both in physical sense as well as in prestige.  As the Russian war on Ukraine drags on, the great Russian bear appears to be slowly and steadily losing his strength and his teeth!