Factbox-The bridge linking Russia to the Crimean peninsula By Reuters

LONDON (Reuters) – The road-and-rail bridge linking Russia and the Crimean peninsula was broken in a strong blast on Saturday, hitting an important provide route for Russian forces in Ukraine. Following are key details in regards to the bridge.

CRIMEA AND RUSSIA LINK

The 19-km (12-mile) Crimea Bridge over the Kerch Strait is the one direct hyperlink between the transport community of Russia and the Crimean peninsula, which Moscow annexed from Ukraine in 2014.

The bridge was a flagship mission for Russian President Vladimir Putin, who opened it himself for highway site visitors with nice fanfare by driving a truck throughout in 2018.

It consists of a separate roadway and railway, each supported by concrete stilts, which give technique to a wider span held by metal arches on the level the place ships go between the Black Sea and the smaller Azov Sea.

The construction was constructed, at a reported value of $3.6 billion, by a agency belonging to Arkady Rotenberg, a detailed ally and former judo accomplice of Putin.

WHY IT MATTERS

The bridge is essential for the provision of gas, meals and different merchandise to Crimea, the place the port of Sevastopol is the historic dwelling base of Russia’s Black Sea Fleet.

It additionally grew to become a serious provide route for Russian forces after Moscow invaded Ukraine on Feb. 24, sending forces from Crimea to grab most of southern Ukraine’s Kherson area and a few of the adjoining Zaporizhzhia province.

Russia’s Defence Ministry mentioned on Saturday that these troops might be totally provided by present land and sea routes.

WHAT HAS BEEN DESTROYED

The blast on Saturday introduced down sections of highway taking site visitors in a single course.

Visitors was initially suspended after the incident however by Saturday night automobiles and buses have been allowed to start out crossing the bridge in alternating instructions on the remaining intact lanes, whereas heavy items autos waited to cross by ferry.

Russian officers mentioned railway site visitors would resume on Saturday night.

The span via which ships go the strait was not broken.