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17 Jul, 2023 07:08

Crimean Bridge targeted by Ukrainian terrorist attack – Moscow

The raid killed two people and injured one child, damaging the structure’s road section, the National Antiterrorist Committee said

The Crimean Bridge was targeted by a Ukrainian terrorist drone attack, Russia's National Antiterrorist Committee (NAK) said on Monday.

In a statement, the NAK said that the key link between the Crimean Peninsula and mainland Russia was attacked by two Ukrainian unmanned sea vehicles at around 3am local time.

“The terrorist act resulted in the road component of the Crimean Bridge sustaining damage. Two adults were killed and one child was injured,” it stated, adding that law enforcement agencies are investigating the matter.

The NAK statement comes after several Ukrainian media outlets described the attack as a “special operation” conducted by the country’s security services and naval forces. Publicly, however, Ukrainian officials stopped short of assuming direct responsibility, while cheering the incident.

The fatalities were first reported by Belgorod Governor Vyacheslav Gladkov, who said that those who died were a married couple from his region, adding that their daughter had also been injured.

Following the raid, Russian authorities stopped traffic from crossing the bridge, although several hours later, train service on the undamaged section was resumed.

Ukraine has attempted to target the bridge in the past. Last week, Kiev’s forces launched a missile at the key link but failed to break through Russian air defenses, according to the Defense Ministry in Moscow.

In October 2022, the bridge was damaged in a deadly truck bombing that Russia said was orchestrated by Ukrainian intelligence services. At the time, Moscow responded by intensifying missile strikes on the neighboring country’s energy and military infrastructure.

https://www.rt.com/russia/579818-crimean-bridge-targeted-ukrainian-terrorist-attack/

17 Jul, 2023 05:21

Part of Crimean Bridge road section destroyed – media

The infrastructure’s supports have remained undamaged, Russia’s Ministry of Transport has said

One span of the Crimean Bridge has been destroyed, and another partly damaged during an “emergency” which claimed at least two lives, several media outlets reported on Monday.

Russia’s Ministry of Transport has confirmed that the bridge’s road surface on one of the tracks has been damaged. However, it did not corroborate reports about more extensive damage, saying that “the span constructions remain on their supports.”

Photos and videos from the scene shared by Telegram channels Baza and Mash show considerable damage to the key link between the Crimean Peninsula and mainland Russia, with one of the spans hanging lower than the others.

Traffic on the Crimean Bridge was stopped on Monday morning, with Crimean Governor Sergey Aksyonov citing an unspecified “emergency.” Belgorod Governor Vyacheslav Gladkov said that a couple from his region had been killed in the incident, while their daughter was injured. According to RIA Novosti, the child has beenadmitted to hospital and is now in intensive care.

While the bridge has been targeted by Ukraine in the past, Kiev officials have not confirmed their involvement in the incident – but have welcomed it. Andrey Yusov, a spokesman for Ukraine’s Main Directorate of Intelligence, claimed the Crimean Bridge is a “redundant construction,” refusing to elaborate further.

https://www.rt.com/russia/579815-crimean-bridge-road-section-destroyed/

17 Jul, 2023 06:36

Ukraine behind new Crimean Bridge attack – media

The incident claimed the lives of at least two civilians, with one child injured

The Crimean Bridge was damaged in a joint “special operation” conducted by Ukraine’s Security Service (SBU) and naval forces, media outlets reported on Monday. The Russian authorities have yet to announce the details behind the incident.

According to a source for RBK Ukraina, the key infrastructure linking the peninsula with mainland Russiawas attacked by an unspecified number of sea surface drones. “It was difficult to reach the bridge, but finally the task was accomplished,” a source told the outlet.

Ukrainian officials have cheered the incident but have yet to confirm their direct involvement in the reported attack. Andrey Yusov, a spokesman for Ukraine’s Main Directorate of Intelligence, described the Crimean Bridge as a “redundant construction,” but refused to elaborate.

Traffic on the bridge was stopped in the early hours of Monday, with Crimean Governor Sergey Aksyonov citing an unspecified “emergency.” Later, Belgorod Governor Vyacheslav Gladkov said that a couple from his region had been killed in the incident and that their daughter, a child, had been injured.

Russia’s Ministry of Transport confirmed that the road surface of one of the car tracks was damaged, while the bridge’s supports remain intact.

Ukraine has attempted to target the strategic link in the past, according to Moscow. Last week, the Russian Defense Ministry said that Kiev attempted to strike the bridge with a missile, but failed to penetrate the air defenses.

In October last year, the bridge was damaged in a deadly truck bombing, which Moscow said was orchestrated by Ukrainian intelligence services. At the time,Russia responded by intensifying missile strikes on Ukraine’s military and energy infrastructure.

(That’s going to happen to Ukraine again, worse now, their energy infrastructure and planning centers will be attacked.)

https://www.rt.com/russia/579816-ukraine-attack-crimean-bridge/

17 Jul, 2023 09:24

Russia 'knows' who ordered Crimea Bridge terror attack – Kremlin

Moscow will boost security measures on the peninsula, Dmitry Peskov has said

Russia has consistently worked to increase security measures on the Crimean Peninsula and will continue to improve them in light of the latest terrorist attack on the Crimean Bridge, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said on Monday.

His comments came after a section of the bridge was damaged on Monday morning in what is believed to have been a Ukrainian sea drone attack. Aside from causing significant damage to a portion of the bridge’s road section, the attack also left two people dead and one child injured.

Speaking to journalists following the incident, Peskov noted that Moscow has always stressed the importance of ensuring security at the bridge, especially in light of the increased tourist load and long queues.

“We know the reasons and those behind this terrorist act. This will require further composure and additional measures and work from all of us. No other measures have been discussed at the moment,” he said.

Peskov also stated thatwhile he could not provide any specific detailsabout Moscow’s immediate response to the terrorist attack,Russia’s ultimate answer would be the achievement of all of the goals of the military operation in Ukraine.

The official went on to say that Moscow is “well aware of the insidiousness of the Kiev regime” and that all relevant services and departments were working to counter the threat.

“Today, the Kiev regime killed a young family,”Peskov said, noting that the parents of a young girl are dead, while the girl has been wounded. “This must be talked about so that everyone can hear it. This is all the work of the Kiev regime. We will all work and remain vigilant and focused to ensure that such tragedies do not happen again,” he said.

Traffic on the Crimean bridge is currently stopped, according to Russia’s transportation ministry, which noted that while the road surface has been damaged, the bridge’s supports remain intact. According to Peskov, Russian President Vladimir Putin has already ordered repairs to begin.

Ukraine has attempted to target the strategic link connecting mainland Russia and the Crimean Peninsula in the past, the Kremlin says. Last week, the Russian Defense Ministry said that Kiev attempted to strike the bridge with a missile, but failed to penetrate its air defenses.

In October last year, the bridge was damaged in a deadly truck bombing, which Moscow said was orchestrated by Ukrainian intelligence services. Earlier this month,Ukrainian Deputy Defense Minister Anna Maliar confirmed her nation’s role in that attack.

https://www.rt.com/russia/579826-kremlin-comments-crimean-bridge-attack/

17 Jul, 2023 00:17

US volunteer faked Ukraine battlefield heroics – report

An American celebrated online and in the media has reportedly been outed as a hoaxer who aimed to get rich off his false image

A US military veteran who claimed battlefield victories as a volunteer fighter in Ukraine and gained fame through media interviews and dramatic Twitter posts was reportedly lying about his exploits all along to create a false image from which he could profit after the conflict.

James Vasquez, who accumulated more than 400,000 followers on Twitter and wasregularly quoted by the likes of CNN and the New York Times, falsely claimed battlefield achievements as his own, Business Insider reported on Sunday.

The outlet, which cited allegations by four other foreign volunteers in Ukraine, also confirmed through thePentagon that Vasquez had lied about his military historywhen he claimed to have had combat deployments as a US Army sergeant in Iraq and Kuwait. As it turned out, heserved as an electrical systems repairerin the Army Reserve and ended his stint there as a private first class.

Vasquez’s social media posts, purported to be about his exploits on the front lines, often went viral. “He bragged about capturing Russians and taking out tanks, was regularly interviewed by the news media and made catchy claims – including that he imagined the ‘punchable’ Tucker Carlson when preparing for battle,”Business Insider said. EvenAdam Kinzinger,then a US congressman, insisted that Vasquez’s Twitter account needed to be verified because “he’s legit, and too many folks are trying to create fake accounts with him.” (Kinzinger falls for bullshit all the time!)

However, Vasquez was making up his claims by going to areas where battles had recently taken place, shooting videos with destroyed equipment and claiming achievements as his own, other foreign fighters claimed. In one case, he claimed on Twitter that he was heading to Soledar, where intense fighting was reportedly raging, but Ukrainian forces had withdrawn from the area days before.

The accusations against Vasquez apparently began to surface earlier this year. Sarah Ashton-Cirillo, an American volunteer who works in the media department of Ukraine’s Territorial Defense Forces, said in a March Twitter post that Vasquez could not have legally gone on combat missions because he didn’t have a contract with the Armed Forces of Ukraine (AFU).

“I met James Vasquez three times for a total of about four hours,” she told Business Insider. “During our last meeting, in the presence of another person, he gave himself up and confirmed what I had known since last summer, thathe was never a member of the AFU.”

Other fighters told the outlet that Vasquez bragged about becoming a millionaire when the conflict ends. One volunteer claimed, “James said, and I quote, ‘I’m never gonna go back to work as a handyman. I’m probably never gonna have to work again after his war. I’m gonna be famous.’”

Vasquez sought donations, in some cases for a purported Ukraine charity called Ripley’s Heroes. He also allegedly leveraged the death of Ukrainian-born British fighter Viktor Yatsunyk by falsely claiming to have lost his “friend.” Canadian volunteer April Huggett said,“His stolen valor knows no end.”

Business Insider was unable to reach Vasquez for comment on the allegations. He admitted to the New York Times in March that he had misrepresented his military record and hadbeen kicked out of the US Army. “I had to tell a million lies to get ahead,” he said.

https://www.rt.com/news/579812-us-volunteer-faked-ukraine-heroics/

17 Jul, 2023 10:13

EU snubs Zelensky over summit – Spanish daily

La Vanguardia has claimed the bloc opted not to invite the Ukrainian president to a meeting with Latin American leaders

The European Union ignored Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky’s requests to be invited to the bloc’s summit with Latin American heads of state and government, Barcelona’s La Vanguardia has reported. Last week, NATO refused to accommodate Kiev’s demands for a clear NATO membership timeline, let alone immediate accession to the US-led military alliance.

In its article on Monday, the paper cited anonymous European diplomats as claiming that the European Council’s President,Charles Michel, had decided it would be “better not to invite” the Ukrainian headof state to the meeting of European Union and Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC) leaders in Brussels.

However, “Ukraine will occupy a prominent place during the leaders’ discussions,” unnamed sources told the Spanish daily ahead of the event, which kicked off on Monday. The unnamed diplomats listed food security as one item that would likely be high on the agenda.

According to the outlet, the EU has been pressing for the inclusion of condemnation of Russia’s military campaign against Ukraine in the summit’s final document. However, it is not clear whether this will be the case as there is reportedly no consensus on the issue among Latin American nations.

La Vanguardia pointed out that the previous EU-CELAC summit took place back in 2015, with Brussels now busy doubling down on its efforts to woo the Global South.

Last week, NATO fell short of Ukraine’s expectations after the US-led military bloc decided that Kiev would be granted membership at some unspecified point in the future, “when allies agree and conditions are met.”

President Zelensky took to social media last Tuesday, slamming the alliance’s “indecisiveness” and “weakness.”

“It’s unprecedented and absurd when [a] time frame is not set neither for the invitation nor for Ukraine’s membership,” the Ukrainian head of state insisted.

Later on, however, Zelensky softened his stance somewhat after the US delegation reportedly became “furious” at his criticisms.

https://www.rt.com/news/579822-report-eu-snubs-zelensky-summit/