An explosion on the Kerch Bridge on Saturday damaged an important supply route for Russia’s forces.
Russian President Vladimir Putin’s silence after an explosion caused the partial collapse of a bridge connecting Russia to the occupied Crimean Peninsula is causing anger in Moscow, according to the Institute for the Study of War (ISW).
Saturday’s explosion on the bridge over the Kerch Strait damaged an important supply route for Russia’s forces as the Kremlin’s war effort in Ukraine continues to face mounting setbacks. Ukrainian officials celebrated the explosion, but have not claimed responsibility.
Russia has not assigned blame for the explosion. In a tweet, Maria Zakharova, a spokeswoman for Russia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, said Kyiv’s «reaction towards destruction of civilian infrastructure is a testament to its terrorist nature.»
According to the ISW in a Saturday report, the Kremlin «is likely continuing to frame the Russian Ministry of Defense (MOD) as the scapegoat for the Kerch Bridge explosion and other Russian military failures to deflect the blame from Putin.»
In its assessment, the ISW said that «some nationalist voices noted that Putin and his close circle are failing to immediately address the attack on a symbolic bridge, voicing direct criticism of Putin for the first time.
