Get all your news in one place.
100’s of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
The Independent UK
The Independent UK
National
Arpan Rai and Tara Cobham

Ukraine war - live: ‘Drone attack’ on Crimea bridge hits critical supply line as Putin ends grain deal

AFP via Getty Images

Crimean Bridge badly damaged after ‘multiple blasts’ in early hours

Vladimir Putin has been blasted for his “cynical move” to end the Black Sea grain export deal after the Crimean Bridge was struck on Monday.

Russia said it had halted participation in the landmark UN-brokered deal that allowed Ukrainian grain to be exported through the Black Sea just hours after Moscow said Ukraine had attacked the critical Russian supply line built by Mr Putin amid reports of multiple explosions.

European Union Commission president Ursula von der Leyen “strongly condemned Russia’s cynical move” in a tweet, adding that the EU would continue to work towards ensuring food security for poor countries.

Moscow’s decision comes after Russia’s Investigative Committee said Kyiv was behind the “attack” on the bridge, which is a major supply artery for Russian troops fighting in Ukraine and was previously bombed in October. It subsequently opened a terrorism case.

Meanwhile, Ukraine has not officially confirmed nor denied involvement and the country’s military has suggested Moscow could be responsible.

Three Ukrainian media outlets quoted unnamed sources as saying Ukraine’s domestic security agency and navy were behind the incident, adding that they had used sea-borne drones to attack it.

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100’s of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
One subscription that gives you access to news from hundreds of sites
Already a member? Sign in here
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.