Part of Crimea Bridge, Europe's Longest, Collapses after Truck Explodes near Fuel Train

A truck exploded near a fuel train on the multi-billion Kerch Bridge in Crimea on Saturday morning, damaging parts of the structure.

"Today at 6:07 a.m., a truck was blown up on the automobile part of the Crimean bridge from the side of the Taman Peninsula, causing the fire of seven fuel tanks of a train heading towards the Crimean Peninsula," Russia’s National Anti-Terrorism Committee (NAC) said in a statement to Interfax on Saturday.

The NAC added that "there was a partial collapse of two car spans of the bridge.”

The Kerch Bridge is a strategic logistic route that accommodates both roads and rail links. Stretching over 16km, it is the longest bridge in Europe, constructed after Russia seized Crimea. Putin himself drove a truck to inaugurate the $3.7 billion bridge.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has reportedly instructed the creation of a government commission in connection with the emergency on the Crimean bridge.

"The president instructed the prime minister to form a government commission to find out the causes of what happened and to eliminate the consequences as soon as possible. It will also include the heads of the Krasnodar Territory and Crimea, representatives of the National Guard, the FSB, and the Ministry of Internal Affairs," press secretary of the head of state Dmitry Peskov stated.

Explosion a special operation by Ukraine’s Security Service?

Explosion on the bridge across the Kerch Strait was a special operation conducted by the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU), a law enforcement source told Interfax-Ukraine.