Back Story Newsletter
Good Morning,
Russian Revenge?
Russian and Ukrainian officials traded barbs overnight including mutual accusations of terror in the wake of the bold attack on the Crimean Bridge linking mainland Russia to Crimea.
President Putin popped up in a Kremlin video saying “We have no doubt this is a terrorist attack aimed at destroying critically important civilian infrastructure of Russia”. Putin looked angry and out of breath as he blamed Ukrainian special services for the attack.
It was the worst 70th birthday present the Russian leader could imagine, and the bridge is a prestige pet project of Putin who ordered the invasion of Crimea in 2014. And Putin said he would give his response during a Security Council meeting later Monday.
For Ukrainians the bridge is a hated symbol of Russian theft of their land, and more importantly it is a current strategic link to resupply to Crimea and Russian invading troops through out Ukraine.
But an adviser to Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky, Mykhailo Podolyak, denied Mr Putin's accusation.
He wrote that there is "only one terrorist state here" and that the "whole world knows who it is".
That as Russian rockets continue to hammer civilian targets in Ukraine including Zaporizhzhia which lies in an area Russia has tried to annex and claims to protect. At least 14 people were killed in Zaporizhzhia this weekend alone. 43 dead over the week.
Bridge Bomb?
There are many theories about how the bridge was attacked. Russia says it was a truck bomb but the explanation doesn’t seem to make sense combined with the video of the attack. The explosives could have been planted by Ukrainian special forces. There may have been a rocket or an underwater drone. Experts are undecided on how the attack occurred.
Russian Response
Putin will have to appear fierce today, or look weak in his response to the bridge attack. By setting the stage for a security council response, he is promising retribution for the bridge attack. It may come in the form of missile and aircraft attacks on civilian areas in Ukraine, perhaps even Kyiv. (Which was hit this morning at 9am and early reports say “its bad”.
But the Russians have already bombed most civilian areas. Nuclear? Not likely. But possible given Russias constant drum beat of threatening a tactical strike. But I don’t Russia would dare use a nuclear weapon think in connection with this attack.
On Back Story podcast former U.S. Army LTG. Ben Hodges says there will be more attacks on Crimea. His interview is worth listening to if you haven’t already. Ben has advised Ukraine on training and military.
Have a good Monday!
I will write more this week on other news. But Ukraine is THE story to watch today.
Dana Lewis