(CNN) – Russian officials say at least three missiles have been shot down over the Kerch Bridge, which connects the Russian-annexed Crimean peninsula to the Russian mainland.
“Another enemy missile shot down over the Kerch Strait. Thanks to the high professionalism and vigilance of our air defense forces!” Crimea’s appointed Russian president, Sergei Aksyonov, wrote in a telegram on Saturday.
Aksionov earlier said two Ukrainian missiles were shot down in the Kerch Strait on Saturday.
Pictures and videos circulating on social media showed white smoke billowing from the bridge that connects the Russian mainland and the peninsula, which was annexed by Russia in 2014. CNN has not independently verified the images.
The Crimean bridge is a key supply artery for Russia in its war on Ukraine, allowing the flow of people and goods into Moscow-occupied Ukrainian territories in the south and east of the country.
Also known as the Kerch Bridge, it has the personal value of Russian President Vladimir Putin. In the Kremlin’s narrative, this refers to the “reunification” of Crimea with Russian territory.
In October, a fuel tanker exploded, partially damaging the bridge and damaging much of the road. The Kremlin blamed Kiev for the explosion, which Putin said was “sabotage” by Ukraine’s security services.
The bridge was hit by two attacks in July, at which time a Ukrainian security official told CNN that Kiev was responsible.
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