President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky acknowledged the responsibility of Kyiv in the attack in the area of the Crimean bridge. On Saturday, August 12, the Russian authorities reported the destruction of two missiles of the armed forces of Ukraine on approach to the bridge.
Mr. Zelensky, in his evening address, listed “very eloquent smoke on the Crimean bridge” as an example of a response to Russia’s actions. During Saturday’s attack, Russian security services placed a smoke screen on the bridge, and videos of the bridge in thick smoke were circulated on social media.
On August 12, the Crimean authorities and the Russian Ministry of Defense reported that air defense systems shot down two S-200 missiles converted into a strike version. The Russian Foreign Ministry stated that the attacks would not go unanswered.
The Crimean bridge was twice damaged by the Ukrainian side. In October 2022, it was blown up using explosives on a truck. In July 2023, the bridge was blown up using maritime drones. Now the movement of vehicles is organized in one lane in reverse mode. Kyiv acknowledged responsibility for the attacks.
