THE SQUIZ
Ukraine is thought to be behind Saturday’s blast on the Kerch Strait Bridge that links the Russian-occupied Crimean Peninsula to mainland Russia. According to reports, 3 people were killed when an explosion brought down sections of the roadway and damaged a section of the railway of the major artery used by Russian forces in Ukraine’s south. And while parts of the bridge reopened a few hours after the explosion, it’s seen as a major embarrassment – and an unwanted 70th birthday gift – for Russian President Vladimir Putin. This morning, he’s called the attack an “act of terrorism”.

WHAT’S THE BIG DEAL?
Three things to note:

• At 19km, it’s Europe’s longest bridge and was hailed by Russian media as “the construction of the century” when Putin opened it in 2018 at the cost of $4.7 billion. At the ceremony, he drove an orange dump truck across a portion of the bridge and called the project a “miracle”.

• There’s some recent history to understand… The Crimean Peninsula was illegally seized by Russia from Ukraine in 2014, and commentators say it’s hard to exaggerate the significance/symbolism of setting it on fire. Officials in Ukraine aren’t claiming responsibility, but the government issued the 2-word Twitter response: “Sick burn.”

• But it’s more than symbolic. If the bridge was seriously damaged, it would have a huge effect on Russia’s ability to fight the war in southern Ukraine, where its just annexed 2 more regions. In recent weeks, Ukrainian forces have been pushing Russian troops back in those areas using Western weapons.

SO PUTIN’S UNDER PRESSURE?
That’s what the experts say. Russian officials have previously said the bridge was well protected from threats, but Putin’s ‘crown jewel’ was vulnerable to attack leading his supporters to call for strong retaliation. Coming amid a string of recent Russian battlefield failures and a reshuffle of top commanders, Maria Snegovaya from Georgetown Uni says the explosion is “essentially just another confirmation” that the challenge in Ukraine “is unlike anything Putin’s regime has faced over pretty much all of its duration.” No doubt Putin will be hoping his new commander sorts things out… As for Russia’s response, missile strikes on the southeastern city of Zaporizhzhia have increased. Overnight, 13 people were killed and dozens more were wounded when several residential buildings were destroyed.