Explosions reportedly occurred around Kerch on the Russian-occupied Crimean peninsula on Saturday, reports The Guardian. Russian authorities say they have stopped traffic on the bridge that connects the peninsula with Russia.
“Air defense forces shot down two enemy rockets over the Kerch Strait,” wrote the Russian installed governor Sergei Aksionov on social media, reports the AFP news agency.
According to Russia, two Ukrainian rockets were shot down over the bridge by the country’s air defenses. And despite stopping traffic on the bridge, it should not have been damaged in connection with the incident, states Governor Sergej Aksionov, who further urges residents to remain calm.
The Russian Ministry of Defense further states that no one was injured in connection with the explosions, reports Sky News.
The information about the explosion came shortly after videos, which allegedly show the explosions, began to circulate on social media. On the platform X, formerly Twitter, it is possible to see, among other things, images of massive clouds of smoke at the bridge, images that have not yet been verified.
Russia: 20 drones shot down in the morning
Earlier on Saturday morning, Russia claimed to have shot down 20 Ukrainian drones near Crimea. Also on Friday, Moscow stated that it had shot down a drone aimed at the Russian capital.
The attacks have not been confirmed from the Ukrainian side.
The bridge has been attacked before
In recent times, drone attacks have been directed both at Russia and at Russian-controlled territory.
Last July, Ukraine caused extensive damage to the Kerch Bridge, which connects Russia to the Crimean peninsula, which has been occupied since 2014.
And in October last year, the bridge was partially destroyed after a large explosion.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyi has repeatedly said that there are plans to take Crimea back.