Hugo Bachega
Ukraine correspondent in Kyiv

Image source, Reuters

It’s hard to exaggerate the significance, and symbolism, of seeing the bridge across the Kerch Strait on fire.

Opened by President Putin in 2018, the rail and road bridge was meant to be the image that Crimea was Russian.

It is the only link between Russia and the peninsula, which was illegally annexed by Moscow in 2014.

In this war, Russia has used the bridge to move military equipment, ammunition, and personnel from Russia to the battlefields in southern Ukraine.

As such, Ukrainian authorities have said it was a legitimate target, as they vow to retake the peninsula.

Kyiv has the momentum in the conflict. It has reclaimed large swathes of territory in its counter-offensive, forcing Russian troops to abandon long-held positions.

Amid the losses, Moscow has carried out a chaotic military mobilisation, which led to rare anti-war protests in Russia and a huge exodus of military-age men.

Any attack on Crimea, where the Russian army has built a massive presence, will be seen as another humiliation for the Kremlin.

Mykhailo Podolyak, an adviser to President Zelensky, said on Twitter, external: “Crimea, the bridge, the beginning. Everything illegal must be destroyed, everything stolen must be returned to Ukraine, everything occupied by Russia must be expelled.”

The Kerch bridge is particularly hated by Ukrainians, and social media here has erupted in celebration after this morning’s developments, one day after President Putin turned 70.

Image source, Reuters

Russian President Vladimir Putin has been briefed about the "emergency" on the Crimean bridge.

He has ordered a government commission to be established to investigate the incident, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov has said.

Peskov told the Interfax news agency: "The president has instructed the prime minister to form a government commission to establish the causes of the incident and eliminate its aftermath as soon as possible.

“The commission will comprise the heads of Krasnodar Territory and Crimea, representatives of the National Guard [Rosgvardia], the FSB [Federal Security Service] and the Interior Ministry."

He added that transport minister Vitaly Savelyev and emergency situations minister Aleksandr Kurenkov are travelling to the site of the incident.

What caused the bridge explosion?published at 09:01 British Summer Time 8 October 2022

09:01 BST 8 October 2022

Paul Adams
BBC correspondent in Ukraine

Image source, Reuters

A former senior British army explosives expert says the damage to Russia’s Kerch bridge to the Crimean Peninsula looks like “a masterpiece of clandestine sabotage.”

The expert says this looks like the work of Ukrainian special forces.

He told me: "The lack of obvious blast/fragmentation damage on the road surface suggests that an air-delivered weapon was not used.

"A well-planned attack from below may have been the cause.

"I suspect explosives on the road bridge and train deck were initiated near simultaneously using coded radio command.”

The Kerch bridge, built after Russia’s annexation of the Crimean Peninsula in 2014, is Russia’s only major supply route to Crimea.

It’s hard to overstate the importance of what’s happened there.

An adviser to Ukraine's President Zelensky, Mykhailo Podolyak, has called the damage to the bridge a "beginning" - but did not directly claim Ukrainian responsibility.

"Everything illegal must be destroyed, everything stolen must be returned to Ukraine, everything occupied by Russia must be expelled," he tweeted.

These are the first images we've recieved from the scene of the explosion on the bridge connecting occupied Crimea in Ukraine to the Russian mainland.

Widely shared images show a train on the Kerch rail bridge ablaze, with the adjacent road bridge appearing to have sustained damage.

Image source, Reuters

Thanks for joining us. We’re resuming our live coverage of the war in Ukraine and will be bringing you the latest developments and analysis.

Here's the latest:

• Just after 06:00 local time in Crimea, a large fire erupted on a road and rail bridge that links Russia to the Crimea peninsula
• Russian state media says it was caused by a lorry explosion and led to oil tankers on the rail section catching fire, with the road then collapsing
• Crimea was annexed in 2014 by Russia, which now uses the Kerch bridge to move military equipment into Ukraine

• An adviser to Ukraine's President Zelensky, Mykhailo Podolyak, called the damage a "beginning" - but did not directly claim Ukrainian responsibility

Stay with us for the latest updates.