Ukraine demands dismantling of Russia's contested Crimean bridge
9:13 AM EDT, October 4, 2024
Ukraine is seeking a ruling from the Arbitration Tribunal in The Hague to mandate that the Russian Federation dismantle the illegally constructed Kerch Bridge, also known as the Crimean Bridge, due to Russia's violation of the UN Maritime Convention.
"Russia illegally built this bridge and must now remove it to ensure passage through the Kerch Strait in compliance with international law," stated the Ukrainian communiqué.
Kyiv emphasizes that merely telling Russia it is violating international law is insufficient. It is essential to force Russia to provide guarantees that such violations will not occur in the future.
The Kerch Bridge, also called the Crimean Bridge, holds significant strategic value in the region. It serves as a symbol of Russia's annexation of Crimea and highlights the conflict between Russia and Ukraine. Russia constructed this bridge to fulfill its logistical requirements following the annexation of Crimea in 2014. The bridge was completed in 2018.
Attacks on the bridge and its protection
The Armed Forces of Ukraine have launched several attacks on the Kerch Bridge. In October 2022, a truck explosion resulted in partially collapsing one road bridge section and a fire on a fuel tanker located on the adjacent railway bridge. Another attack occurred in July 2023 when two unmanned surface vehicles damaged the bridge, causing a span on one road bridge section to collapse and damaging another.
Ukrainians are developing a program for building explosive unmanned boats used in these attacks on the bridge. These efforts aim to disrupt military transport and diminish Russia's regional operational capabilities.
Russia prioritizes maintaining the safety of the Kerch Bridge. To prevent further damage, the Russians are implementing various measures, such as constructing barriers using sunken ferries. Despite these efforts, Ukrainians continue to carry out attacks.
Source: Ukrainian Pravda/WP
