Correspondent in Moscow
Following the spectacular bombing of a bridge in Crimea, followed by new bombings of Ukrainian civilians, Vladimir Putin will chair his Security Council on Monday, which includes army chiefs and “services“. It is possible to consider additional responses to the damage caused by Moscow in 2014 to the 10-kilometer structure connecting the peninsula to the Krasnodar Territory. Russia’s president on Sunday accused Ukraine’s secret service of being behind what he called a powerful explosion “terrorist act”. against key infrastructure. “The authors, performers and sponsors are the secret services of Ukraine.”Vladimir Putin said during a meeting with the head of the Russian Investigative Committee, according to a video released by the Kremlin.
On Sunday, divers were inspecting the surroundings of the place where yesterday, around 06:00, the ball of fire collapsed as a result of the collapse of one of the two road lanes of the bridge, when a railway train passed overhead, several wagons caught fire. . As a result of the explosion, three people in nearby cars died, according to the message provided by the Russians. Road and rail transport officially resumed on Saturday, and the transport ministry announced that passenger trains were running from Crimea to Russia.were driven according to the usual plan“. On Sunday afternoon, we were able to see on the spot that vehicle access to the bridge was by trickle only, after hours of waiting. The governor of Crimea, Sergey Aksionov, said on Sunday that a ferry for buses and trucks should be installed.
SEE ALSO – War in Ukraine. Images of extensive damage to the Crimean Bridge
Symbolically, the blow is serious for Moscow. The explosion, which came the day after Vladimir Putin’s 70th birthday, affected one of his flagship projects, which was launched at great expense by the Russian president in 2018: the annexation of Crimea, an internationally disputed region. four years ago. At a time when Russian forces are on the back foot in Ukraine, this becomes even more acute, because it is through this Kerch bridge, which crosses the strait of the Sea of Azov and the Black Sea, that the logistics and supplies of Russian troops on the Kherson front in southern Ukraine; The supply line is theoretically inaccessible to potential Ukrainian attacks, even though the peninsula has been hit several times in recent months.
In response, a few hours later, on the night of Saturday and Sunday, new Russian bombings hit the city of Zaporizhia, killing twelve to seventeen people and wounding between sixty and eighty-seven, according to various reports, and before the death toll. civilians may still be under the rubble. Three days ago, the strike in this southern city of Ukraine had already claimed seventeen lives. This time four cruise missiles were used, the Air Force of Ukraine reports. “Any meaning. Absolute evil. Terrorists and savages. From the one who gives this order to the one who executes it. Everyone has a responsibility“Volodymyr Zelensky responded in his Telegram. Russian authorities also said Sunday that they had struck “foreign mercenariesIn the region of Zaporozhye.
A load on a car or a sabotage of a bridge, an attack from the sea or a missile? The exact circumstances of the explosion still caused speculation on Sunday. At the moment, the Russian authorities have attributed the explosion to a mine-laden truck, which was filmed by CCTV cameras, whose owner, as noted, is a resident of the Krasnodar Territory. According to Alexander Bastrykine, head of the investigative committee, this truck had to pass through the territory of Bulgaria, Georgia, Armenia, North Ossetia of Russia, and then Krasnodar to reach the Crimea bridge. According to him, “persons who participated in organizing the movement of this truck”. were revealed by Russian investigators.
The strategic and highly sensitive bridgehead in Crimea was theoretically subject to enhanced naval, air and anti-missile surveillance. “Shield”, which also included “military dolphins» special preparation. It is true that the Ukrainians themselves mentioned the possibility of fighting against it a few months ago. However, we note that Kiev has not officially assumed responsibility. In his daily address to Ukrainians on Saturday evening, Volodymyr Zelensky limited himself to irony, noting that the day had been good, except for “cloudy weatherIn Crimea. Other Ukrainian sources claim that the explosion was the result of competition between the Russian security services and the military.
Discontent in high places
Now the main questions are focused on the military and even political consequences of this event in Russia. At a time when difficulties were piling up for Moscow, some supporters “war party“Excessively criticizing the options chosen by the Russian crew, they obviously used it as an excuse to push their fire. On Saturday evening, the Telegram website, which is linked to the mercenary leader of the “Wagner” group Yevgeny Prigozhin, announced without reason the departure of the Minister of Defense Sergey Choigu and the replacement of the Chief of the Defense Staff, General Valery Gerasimov. .
On the other hand, discontent in high places over the conduct of operations led to the appointment of a new commander on Saturday.special military operationIn Ukraine, Sergey Surovik, 55 years old. In August 1991, Captain Surovikin’s unit made itself known by killing three protesters during the current Moscow putsch. Much later, he will lead Russian troops in Syria, where he will be credited with turning the military situation in favor of the Bashar al-Assad regime, particularly at the cost of the indiscriminate bombing of civilians that follows him. With a reputation for violence and corruption, according to his detractors, he was the only army general to be appointed head of the Air Force in 2017, no doubt recognizing his strong loyalty. General Surovikin was the head of the army group for several months.SouthDuring the attack in Ukraine.
What can Putin decide now during the security conclave he will convene on Monday? “Bombing the center of Kyiv? It will not change anything. Russia is bombing Ukrainian cities every night– says political analyst Abbas Galiamov. “Use nuclear weapons? This would obviously be an inadequate answer. (…) It is impossible to qualify the explosion of the bridge as a threat to existence“Says this specialist, who also remembers Vladimir Zelensky’s words on BBC on Saturday.We will not go beyond our borders, it is not our business what will happen to Putin, let the Russians deal with it…”.
Source: Le Figaro
