Putin’s military supply routes blocked by Russian tourists; he encouraged them to vacation in Crimea, report says
Russian tourists are snarling up crucial military supply routes as the Kremlin continues to encourage civilians to visit the occupied Crimea peninsula despite it being a war zone, a report says.
The traffic jams caused by tourists were made worse this week after an explosion tore through the Kerch road bridge on Sunday, with Russia blaming the attack on drones launched by Ukraine. Ukraine Monday claimed responsibility for the attack.
The attack forced the temporary closure of the bridge for a second time in less than a year.
The Institute for the Study of War described the Kerch bridge as one of two supply routes for Russian forces in southern Ukraine battling to resist a Ukrainian counteroffensive. The other route runs through Russian-occupied regions in east Ukraine.
“The July 17 attack on the Kerch Strait Bridge will likely have continuing ramifications on Russian logistics in southern Ukraine,” said the Institute for the Study of War.
“Russian and occupation officials have nevertheless continued to promote occupied Crimea as a tourist destination, however, urging Russian civilians to drive through and to a warzone rather than advising them to avoid it as a responsible government would,” it added. [Continue reading…]