A Russian court has handed down life sentences to eight individuals convicted of terrorism charges related to the October 2022 attack on the Kerch Strait Bridge, a critical supply route connecting Russia to the annexed Crimean Peninsula. The attack, which involved a truck bomb, destroyed two sections of the bridge, killed five people, and required extensive repairs. Moscow condemned the act as terrorism and retaliated with strikes on Ukraine’s civilian infrastructure. The Ukrainian Security Service (SBU) claimed responsibility for the attack, which targeted a symbol of Russia’s control over Crimea. The defendants, including Russian, Ukrainian, and Armenian citizens, were charged with carrying out a terrorist attack and illegal arms trafficking. Five others, including Ukrainians and Georgians, were charged in absentia. The accused denied the charges, claiming ignorance of the explosives in the truck. Oleg Antipov, a logistics entrepreneur whose company handled the shipment, voluntarily approached Russian authorities after the blast but was later arrested. In a courtroom statement, Antipov maintained his innocence, citing polygraph tests and lack of incriminating evidence. The Kerch Strait Bridge, completed in 2018, is a strategic and symbolic asset for Russia, facilitating military and civilian supplies to Crimea. Ukraine has targeted the bridge twice, underscoring its significance in the ongoing conflict. The attack has further strained relations between Russia and Ukraine, with Moscow using the incident to justify its military actions.
Russia convicts and hands life sentences to 8 people over attack on a key bridge to Crimea
