By Matthew Roscoe • Updated: 06 Jul 2022 • 20:58 • <1 minute read
Image of the Kerch Bridge. Credit: Antoshka R/Shutterstock.com
Last week, videos of billowing smoke rolling across the Crimean Bridge (also known as the Kerch Strait Bridge) were the apparent result of a Russian smokescreen exercise, while images and videos making the rounds on Wednesday, July 6 show a barge full of mirrored reflectors in the waters nearby.
A video showing the barge noted: “Not entirely sure what we’re looking at here, but it seems a barge full of mirrored reflectors is being moved to sit in the middle of the Kerch Strait Bridge. Seems Russian fears of an attack on this bridge are growing by the day…”
Not entirely sure what we're looking at here, but it seems a barge full of mirrored reflectors is being moved to sit in the middle of the Kerch Strait Bridge. Seems Russian fears of an attack on this bridge are growing by the day… pic.twitter.com/o8nszn2N7W — The Intel Crab (@IntelCrab) July 4, 2022
Not entirely sure what we're looking at here, but it seems a barge full of mirrored reflectors is being moved to sit in the middle of the Kerch Strait Bridge. Seems Russian fears of an attack on this bridge are growing by the day… pic.twitter.com/o8nszn2N7W
— The Intel Crab (@IntelCrab) July 4, 2022
The Russians deployed a 436BIS(R) project vessel near the Krymskiy bridge, according to reports.
The 436BIS(R) vessel is 45 meters long and 8 meters wide, manufactured at the Sokol shipyard in the Nizhny Novgorod region.
“The Russian invaders are reacting nervously to rumours Ukrainian defenders will target and destroy the Kerch bridge that connects the Russian Federation with temporarily-occupied Crimea, Ukraine.”
“They anchored a target ship near the bridge,” one person wrote.
The Russian fascist invaders are reacting nervously to rumours Ukrainian defenders will target and destroy the Kerch bridge that connects the Russian Federation with temporarily-occupied Crimea, Ukraine. The rashists anchored a target ship near the bridge. pic.twitter.com/KBE7Vus2rN — Michael MacKay (@mhmck) July 6, 2022
The Russian fascist invaders are reacting nervously to rumours Ukrainian defenders will target and destroy the Kerch bridge that connects the Russian Federation with temporarily-occupied Crimea, Ukraine.
The rashists anchored a target ship near the bridge. pic.twitter.com/KBE7Vus2rN
— Michael MacKay (@mhmck) July 6, 2022
As noted, Russia attempted a smokescreen across the bridge before the barge appeared.
“Close-ups of the upgraded anti-missile defence at the Crimea Bridge. It certainly doesn’t look that confidence-inspiring, fortunately. Last week, attempts were made to cover the entire bridge in smoke, but they failed,” one person wrote.
https://twitter.com/na_intel/status/1544333575629279234?s=21&t=dtAdGys7v1G__u6GKZQGFg
Videos began circulating social media last week showing the apparent smokescreen.
Something is happening on the Crimea bridge pic.twitter.com/F4T01rsufz — 25% – Roman🇺🇦🇹🇷🇪🇺🇺🇸🇬🇧🇮🇱🇹🇼🇯🇵🇦🇺🦈 (@Wh0Know5) July 1, 2022
Something is happening on the Crimea bridge pic.twitter.com/F4T01rsufz
— 25% – Roman🇺🇦🇹🇷🇪🇺🇺🇸🇬🇧🇮🇱🇹🇼🇯🇵🇦🇺🦈 (@Wh0Know5) July 1, 2022
The Crimean Bridge, also called Kerch Strait Bridge or Kerch Bridge, is a pair of parallel bridges, one road, one rail, spanning the Kerch Strait between the Taman Peninsula of Krasnodar Krai in mainland Russia and the Kerch Peninsula of Crimea, which is claimed by both Russia and Ukraine.
Independent defence analyst H I Sutton reported on Monday, July 4, that “two target barges (vessels used as targets during exercises with the Black Sea Fleet) coming from Novorossiysk Naval Base had been towed to the location and moored on the east side of the bridge.”
He noted that the barges were now ‘acting as decoys, confusing incoming missiles aimed at Kerch Bridge.’
On Monday, July 4, it was reported that Crimea’s “Head” Serhiy Aksyonov had signed a decree stating a draft commission for the mobilisation of citizens in Crimea to fight in Ukraine’s ongoing war with Russia.
Thank you for taking the time to read this article, do remember to come back and check The Euro Weekly News website for all your up-to-date local and international news stories and remember, you can also follow us on Facebook and Instagram.
Share this story
Subscribe to our Euro Weekly News alerts to get the latest stories into your inbox!
By signing up, you will create a Euro Weekly News account if you don't already have one. Review our Privacy Policy for more information about our privacy practices.
Originally from the UK, Matthew is based on the Costa Blanca and is a web reporter for The Euro Weekly News covering international and Spanish national news. Got a news story you want to share? Then get in touch at editorial@euroweeklynews.com.
Download our media pack in either English or Spanish.