22 July 2023 , 19:28
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Black smoke billows over a Russian munitions depot in Crimea after a drone blitz.
The attack, blamed on Ukraine by Russian officials, triggered a massive explosion and led to the evacuation of civilians in a three-mile radius.
Moscow responded by halting traffic and rail on the Kerch bridge, which links the Ukrainian peninsula to Russia and plays a key role in supporting the Kremlin’s occupying forces.
The drone attack destroyed an oil depot and arms warehouses in the Krasnohvardiiske area, less than a week after a pre-dawn strike on the bridge some 100 miles away.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has described the Kerch bridge – also known as the Crimea Bridge – as a target which must be “neutralised”.
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Damage to closed bridge that links Crimea to Russia is examined by investigators (Russian Investigative Committee/UPI/REX/Shutterstock)The crossing was opened in 2018, four years after Russia annexed the peninsula.
The Kerch bombing on Monday prompted Moscow to ditch a landmark agreement to protect world grain supplies – with Russian forces resuming their bombardment of Ukraine’s ports. That has led to a sharp rise in wheat prices on global markets, as Russia warned it would start treating any ships heading for Ukraine as potential military targets.
Damage to bridge was extensive (VK/EAST2WEST NEWS)
Arsenal's Oleksandr Zinchenko will play in charity match (Arsenal FC via Getty Images)Ukraine’s grain facilities in Odesa, on the Black Sea, were attacked for three nights running, with residents spending a fourth night in bomb shelters on Friday.
Unesco has condemned the attacks on the historic city, which is protected under the World Heritage Convention.
Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Volodymyr Zelensky meet earlier this month (APAImages/REX/Shutterstock)In a phone call with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Friday, President Zelensky said it was an “absolute priority” to restore the Black Sea corridor that allows ships to carry Ukrainian grain to the world.
Russia continued its assault across Ukraine on Friday night, killing at least eight civilians in attacks on 11 regions.
Meanwhile, Arsenal and Ukraine defender Oleksandr Zinchenko will captain a team to take on one led by retired Ukraine legend Andriy Shevchenko in a Game4Ukraine charity match at Stamford Bridge on August 5.