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July 17, 2023 - Russia-Ukraine news

By Kathleen Magramo, Sana Noor Haq, Aditi Sangal, Mike Hayes, Elise Hammond and Maureen Chowdhury, CNN

Updated 12:01 a.m. ET, July 18, 2023
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6:14 p.m. ET, July 17, 2023

No damage to Crimean bridge railway track, Russia-backed official says

From CNN's Olga Voitovych and Mick Krever

Rail traffic across the Crimean bridge continues to operate albeit with delays after an apparent attack halted road traffic on the structure early Monday, a Moscow-backed official said.

“The railroad track was not damaged by the strike,” Vladimir Konstantinov, head of the State Council of the Republic of Crimea, said on Telegram.

Russian state-run news agencies RIA Novosti and TASS also reported that rail traffic on the bridge is continuing to operate with delays.

The nearly 12-mile bridge, also known as the Kerch Bridge, is the longest in Europe and carries both road and rail traffic between the annexed Crimean peninsula and Russia. It also serves as a vital logistical node for Moscow's military in its war against Ukraine.

The bridge was hit by strikes early Monday, killing two people, according to multiple reports.

A widely circulating video of significant damage to one of the bridge’s road spans appears to have been captured this morning from a train passing on the parallel rail bridge.

6:14 p.m. ET, July 17, 2023

Russia-backed official blames Ukraine for "attack" on Crimean bridge

From CNN's Olga Voitovych and Mick Krever

A screengrab from a video shows damage to the Crimea bridge on Monday, July 17.
A screengrab from a video shows damage to the Crimea bridge on Monday, July 17. Telegram via @grey_zone

A Moscow-appointed official in occupied Crimea on Monday blamed Ukraine for an "attack" on the bridge connecting the peninsula to Russia.

“Tonight the terrorist regime in Kyiv committed a new crime – it attacked the Crimean bridge,” Vladimir Konstantinov, head of the State Council of the Republic of Crimea, said on Telegram.

The key bridge was hit by strikes early Monday, according to multiple reports. Two people were killed in the incident, a Russian regional governor said earlier.

Cryptic message: Kyiv has not claimed direct responsibility for the alleged attack but the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) posted an opaque hint on social media that its government was behind the damage.

"Nightingale, my dear brother, The bridge has gone to sleep again. And once... Twice!" the SBU said in a cryptic message on Telegram, threaded to an October 2022 post referring to a previous attack on the Crimea bridge.
"P.S. The music is folk," the SBU said. "Lyrics by the Security Service of Ukraine."

Some context: Last October, a huge blast partially damaged the bridge, causing parts of it to collapse. Earlier this month, Ukraine’s Deputy Defense Minister Hanna Maliar made what appeared to be the clearest admission yet that Ukrainian forces were responsible for the October attack.

6:14 p.m. ET, July 17, 2023

A deadly incident has been reported on the key bridge linking Crimea with Russia. Here's what we know

From CNN staff

An “emergency incident” has been reported on the Crimean bridge, halting traffic on the only link between the annexed peninsula and Russia, a Moscow-backed official said Monday.

Sergey Aksenov, the Russia-appointed head of Crimea, did not specify the nature of the incident, but multiple Telegram channels reported strikes on the bridge.

CNN is unable to verify the reports.

Here's what we know so far:

  • What Russian officials say: Vyacheslav Gladkov, the governor of Russia's southwestern Belgorod region, said a couple traveling by car was killed and their daughter was injured in the incident. Russia's Transport Ministry said the bridge had sustained damage to its spans — the lengths between the support piers — and is being inspected by officials. The ministry did not mention the extent of the damage.
  • What other reports say: Two strikes were allegedly carried out on the bridge around 3 a.m. local time, damaging part of the structure, according to the Telegram channel Grey Zone, which supports the Wagner mercenary group. Explosions were heard around 3:04 a.m. and 3:20 a.m. local time, Grey Zone and popular Crimean blogger TalipoV Online Z said on Telegram. At least two people were killed and another wounded, Russian Telegram channel Baza posted. Videos posted on Telegram by Baza, Grey Zone and other Crimean news outlets appeared to show part of the bridge collapsed and a damaged vehicle. Russian state media reported Monday there has been an “emergency incident” that had stopped traffic.
  • What Ukraine says: A spokesperson for Ukraine's defense intelligence said damage to the bridge could create logistical difficulties for Russian forces, but stopped short of claiming responsibility for the incident. "As for the reasons for this [damage], we do not comment. I can only quote the chief of Ukrainian Defense Intelligence, Kyrylo Budanov, who said 'the Crimean bridge is an unstable structure,'" spokesperson Andrii Yusov told public broadcaster Suspilne.
  • 2022 attack: The bridge was severely damaged on October 8 last year when a fuel tanker exploded and destroyed a large section of the road. Earlier this month, Ukraine’s Deputy Defense Minister Hanna Maliar made what appeared to be the clearest admission yet that Ukrainian forces were responsible for the October attack. "273 days ago, (we) launched the first strike on the Crimean bridge to disrupt Russian logistics." Maliar posted on Telegram on July 9, as she listed Ukrainian achievements since the start of Russia's invasion.
  • Why the bridge matters: The nearly 12-mile structure, also known as the Kerch Bridge, is the longest in Europe and carries both road and rail traffic. It also serves as a vital logistical node for Moscow’s military in its war against Ukraine. The bridge holds huge strategic and symbolic importance for Russia, which built the structure at a cost of around $3.7 billion after Moscow illegally annexed Crimea in 2014. It was the physical expression of Russian President Vladimir Putin’s objective to take over Ukraine and bind it to Russia forever.
  • Crimea's significance: Ukrainian officials, including President Volodymyr Zelensky, have long stated their goal of recapturing Crimea but rarely comment directly on actions in the peninsula. “We cannot imagine Ukraine without Crimea. And while Crimea is under the Russian occupation, it means only one thing: the war is not over yet,” Zelensky told CNN earlier this month.
6:15 p.m. ET, July 17, 2023

Crimean bridge damage will cause logistical problems for Russian forces, Ukrainian official says

From CNN's Olga Voitovych

A boat sails next to the Crimean bridge connecting Russia with the peninsula across the Kerch Strait, in Crimea, on July 17.
A boat sails next to the Crimean bridge connecting Russia with the peninsula across the Kerch Strait, in Crimea, on July 17. Stringer/Reuters

The destruction of part of the Crimean bridge could create logistical difficulties for Russian forces, a spokesperson for Ukraine's defense intelligence said Monday.

Spokesperson Andrii Yusov told Ukrainian public broadcaster Suspilne that Russia has been using the bridge "as a major logistics hub for moving forces and resources deep into the territory of Ukraine," and "any logistical problems are additional complications for the occupiers, which create potential advantages for the Ukrainian defense forces."

"The whole world is now witnessing kilometer-long traffic jams and damaged bridge structures," he said.

However, Yusov stopped short of claiming Ukrainian responsibility for the incident.

"As for the reasons for this [damage], we do not comment. I can only quote the chief of Ukrainian Defense Intelligence, Kyrylo Budanov, who said 'the Crimean bridge is an unstable structure,'" Yusov said.

Some context: The bridge linking annexed Crimea to Russia was hit by two strikes early Monday, according to multiple reports. Two people were killed in the incident, a Russian regional governor said. Ukrainian officials, including President Volodymyr Zelensky, have long stated their goal of recapturing Crimea but rarely comment directly on actions in the peninsula.

12:51 a.m. ET, July 17, 2023

2 killed in Crimean Bridge incident, Belgorod governor says

From CNN's Olga Voitovych and Alex Stambaugh 

A couple traveling by car was killed and their daughter was injured in the incident on the Crimean Bridge Monday, the governor of Russia's southwestern Belgorod region said.

Belgorod Gov. Vyacheslav Gladkov said the family is from Novooskolsky district of Belgorod, which borders Ukraine's Kharkiv region, and he has instructed local authorities to notify their relatives. 

The girl has injuries of "medium severity" and has been placed under medical supervision, Gladkov said.

"If possible, when the doctors allow, we will immediately transport her to us in Belgorod region," he said. "I would like to express the sincerest words of condolence from all of us, although I realize that no words can take away the pain of loss, but everything that depends on us, I repeat, we will try to help," he said. 
6:15 p.m. ET, July 17, 2023

Russian Transport Ministry reports damage to Crimean bridge

From CNN's Josh Pennington and Alex Stambaugh

This picture shows the Crimean bridge connecting the Russian mainland with the peninsula across the Kerch Strait, Crimea, on July 17.
This picture shows the Crimean bridge connecting the Russian mainland with the peninsula across the Kerch Strait, Crimea, on July 17. Stringer/Reuters

The Russian Ministry of Transport said Monday that the Crimean bridge has sustained damage to its spans and is currently being inspected by officials. 

"There is damage to the roadway on spans of the Crimean Bridge," the ministry said on Telegram. 

The spans on a bridge are the lengths between the support piers. 

The ministry did not mention the extent of the damage to the bridge. 

Earlier Monday, the Moscow-appointed head of Crimea Sergey Aksenov said an "emergency incident" occurred on the bridge, bringing traffic to a halt.

Multiple Telegram channels have reported strikes on the bridge, however there has been no official confirmation.

6:15 p.m. ET, July 17, 2023

Crimean bridge hit by 2 strikes, reports say

From CNN's Josh Pennington and Alex Stambaugh 

An armed ship sails next to Crimean bridge connecting the Russian mainland with the peninsula across the Kerch Strait, Crimea, on July 17.
An armed ship sails next to Crimean bridge connecting the Russian mainland with the peninsula across the Kerch Strait, Crimea, on July 17. Stringer/Reuters

The key Crimean bridge linking the annexed peninsula to Russia was hit by two strikes early Monday, according to multiple reports.

The governor of Russia's Krasnodar, Veniamin Kondratiev, said on Telegram a crisis center has been formed to coordinate emergency services and rescue those stuck in traffic on the approach to the bridge.   

Two strikes were reportedly carried out on the bridge around 3 a.m. local time, damaging part of the structure, according to pro-Wagner Telegram channel Grey Zone.   

Explosions were heard around 3:04 a.m. and 3:20 a.m. local time, Grey Zone and Crimean blogger TalipoV Online Z said on Telegram.  

CNN is unable to verify the reports. CNN has reached out to the Moscow-appointed head of Crimea Sergey Aksenov.

Videos posted on Telegram by Russian news outlet Baza, Grey Zone and other Crimean media appeared to show part of the bridge collapsed and a vehicle damaged.

According to initial reports, at least two people were killed and another wounded, Baza posted on Telegram. 

Russian state media reported on Monday there has been an "emergency incident" that halted traffic, however there has been no official confirmation of recent strikes on the bridge.  

Emergency responders and law enforcement have been dispatched to the scene, Aksenov said on Monday morning. 

Russia-backed official Elena Elekchyan said Crimea is well supplied with fuel, food and industrial goods and that local warehouses have all necessary supplies, Oleg Kryuchkov, an adviser to Aksyenov, said on Telegram Monday. 

6:16 p.m. ET, July 17, 2023

It's early morning in Crimea. Here's what you need to know

From CNN staff

A Moscow-backed official in annexed Crimea said early Monday that an “emergency incident” has been reported on the Crimean bridge, halting traffic on the only link between the peninsula and Russia.

Sergey Aksenov, the Russia-appointed head of Crimea, did not specify the nature of the incident.

Last October, a huge blast partially damaged the bridge, causing parts of it to collapse.

Earlier this month, Ukraine’s deputy defense minister made what appeared to be the clearest admission yet that Ukrainian forces were responsible for the October 8 attack.

Here are some other key developments surrounding Russia's war in Ukraine:

  • Putin's remarks: Russian President Vladimir Putin painted the Ukrainian counteroffensive as "unsuccessful" in an interview with a pro-Kremlin journalist published Sunday. Ukraine acknowledges the campaign has been characterized by tough fighting and limited progress but insists it does not feel under pressure by Western allies to deliver quick results as it does the hard work of driving Russian forces out of its territory.
  • On the front lines: Ukraine reported fierce battles in the east, with the two sides swapping fighting positions and Russia going on the offensive in some areas. Outside the long-contested city of Bakhmut, Ukraine's military has reported slow but steady progress. In southern Ukraine, heavy Russian attacks wounded multiple people in the Zaporizhzhia and Kherson regions on the weekend, Ukrainian officials said.
  • Grain deal on the brink: The crucial agreement that allows the export of grain from Ukrainian ports is set to expire Monday unless Russia agrees to an extension. The deal will end at midnight July 17 into July 18 Istanbul time (5 p.m. ET on Monday), a UN spokesperson said. The Kremlin has voiced displeasure with the pact, objecting in particular to the way international sanctions affect its own exports.
  • Cluster bombs in focus: Putin said Ukraine using cluster munitions should be considered a "crime," and vowed to retaliate if Kyiv uses the ones recently supplied by the US. But Putin's own forces have been using the controversial weapons throughout the course of the war, according to Ukraine, the United Nations and a CNN investigation from last year. Read more about both countries' use of the controversial bombs here.
  • US ammunition running low: The United States is running low on ammunition from its own stockpile as the country works to help Ukraine defend itself against Russia, according to US national security adviser Jake Sullivan. President Joe Biden's administration, upon taking office, found that overall stocks of the NATO standard ammunition used for artillery rounds "was relatively low," Sullivan told CNN.
  • F-16s debate: Sullivan confirmed Sunday the US will allow European countries to start training Ukrainian pilots to use F-16 fighter jets, after reports that Europe was still awaiting formal approval. The US has not yet said it will supply Kyiv with the planes, however. Two US lawmakers offered differing perspectives on whether that constitutes "slow-rolling" the process to Ukraine's detriment.
6:16 p.m. ET, July 17, 2023

"Emergency incident" on Crimean bridge, Russia-backed official says 

From CNN's Josh Pennington and Alex Stambaugh 

This picture shows the Crimean bridge connecting the Russian mainland with the peninsula across the Kerch Strait, Crimea, on July 17.
This picture shows the Crimean bridge connecting the Russian mainland with the peninsula across the Kerch Strait, Crimea, on July 17. Stringer/Reuters

An "emergency incident" has been reported on the Crimean bridge, halting traffic on the only link between the annexed peninsula and Russia, a Moscow-backed official said Monday.

Sergey Aksenov, the Russia-appointed head of Crimea, did not specify the nature of the emergency incident. 

"Law enforcement agencies and relevant services are at work. I spoke to the Minister of Transport of the Russian Federation, Vitaly Savelyev, and measures are being taken to ameliorate the situation," Aksenov said. 

Aksenov urged residents and those traveling to and from Crimea to choose an alternative land route. 

Some context: Earlier this month, Ukraine’s Deputy Defense Minister Hanna Maliar made what appeared to be the clearest admission yet that Ukrainian forces were responsible for an attack last October on the bridge.

The attack disrupted major transport links between Russia and Crimea, which Moscow has controlled since it seized the peninsula in 2014. It also hit Russia’s military effort in Ukraine and represented a psychological blow for Moscow and a major propaganda victory for Kyiv.