Personal insult at seventy… Logistics support expected to be disrupted
Possibility of retaliation… “Putin might be hit by ‘government collapse’
The partial destruction of the Crimean Bridge (Kerch Strait Bridge) connecting Crimea and the Russian mainland, which Russia has occupied since 2014, in an explosion on the 8th (local time) caused considerable damage both in substance and symbol to the Russian side invading Ukraine. expected to give
Since Crimea Bridge is the only military supply route linking mainland Russia and the Crimean peninsula, major Western media are pointing out that without this bridge, Russian troops occupying southern and eastern parts of Ukraine and fighting with Ukrainian forces will have serious difficulties in supply. .
The British daily The Guardian pointed out that the bridge was not only a key Russian supply route to Crimea, but also played an important role in supplying other Russian-occupied and recently pushed back Ukraine’s southern fronts.
Railways and roads through Crimea Bridge and the Crimean Peninsula are not the only routes for Russia to continue supplying the southern front of Ukraine.
Another option is to use the railway connected to the port town of Melitopol at the mouth of the Molochna River from Zaporiza in southeastern Ukraine to the Sea of Azov, and it is not impossible to supply by sea or by air through other ports.
However, significant gaps in safety, reliability, and transport capacity are inevitable, which inevitably affects Russia’s ability to conduct war.
In addition, the southern Ukraine railway passing through Melitopol might be attacked at any time.
The New York Times reported that it was difficult to immediately assess the extent of the damage caused by the explosion on the Crimean Bridge. pointed out
Because of its strategic and symbolic value, the Ukrainian side has threatened to destroy the bridge several times since it was invaded by the Russian side in February of this year.
However, it is not yet clear how the explosion has anything to do with the Ukrainian side.
CNN, the American cable news channel, said the explosion appeared to be planned, sarcastically saying that the purpose of the plan was to “help[Russia]President Vladimir Putin’s present ‘talent to make bad decisions’.”
CNN noted that the disruption caused by the explosion forced Putin to make strategic decisions regarding the occupation of southern Ukraine several weeks earlier than before.
It has become impossible to make strategic decisions regarding war and execute them quickly, reflecting the latest information and the circumstances of the war.
This incident is also a significant blow to Russia and Putin symbolically.
In particular, President Putin, who has been taking full advantage of the opening of the Crimean Bridge politically, is highly likely to regard the incident, which took place the day following his 70th birthday, as a personal insult.
He presided over the bridge’s opening ceremony on May 18, 2018, and personally drove an orange Kamaz truck across the bridge.
According to the Guardian, at that time, Putin pointed out that building this bridge was a dream for many eras, including the days of tsar Russia, and ideas came up in the 1930s, 1940s, and 1950s, but they did not come true. A miracle has been accomplished,” he said, emphasizing the historical significance of the opening.
Because of this strategic and symbolic value, Russia also announced in June this year that it would bomb the Ukrainian capital Kiiu if the bridge was attacked.
It is possible that Putin will take strong retaliatory measures to maintain face and strengthen his shaky position in Russia.
Some observers are concerned that Russia may use tactical nuclear weapons once morest Ukraine.
Putin’s current position in Russia appears to be the weakest since taking power in 2000 as Russia’s invasion of Ukraine struggles, CNN noted.
“Admitting failure (from Putin’s point of view) would be reluctant at this stage, and it may seem like an easier way to take a bigger gamble,” CNN said. He pointed out that Sido or the Putin regime itself might face a ‘complete collapse’.
/yunhap news
