A court in Russia has convicted eight individuals on terrorism charges related to an attack on the Crimean Bridge, which links Russia to the Moscow-annexed Crimea and serves as a crucial supply route for Kremlin forces engaged in the ongoing war with Ukraine. The court has sentenced all defendants to life imprisonment.
The attack occurred in October 2022, when a truck bomb detonated, destroying two sections of the bridge. The explosion not only caused significant damage that necessitated months of repairs but also resulted in the deaths of the truck driver and four other individuals in a nearby vehicle. Following the blast, Moscow condemned the incident as an act of terrorism and retaliated by targeting Ukraine's civilian infrastructure, particularly focusing on the country's power grid during the winter months.
The Ukrainian Security Service, known as the SBU, claimed responsibility for orchestrating the attack. Eight individuals, comprising Russian, Ukrainian, and Armenian citizens, were apprehended in connection with the incident. Additionally, five others, including three Ukrainians and two Georgians, have been charged in absentia. The detained individuals—Artyom Azatyan, Georgy Azatyan, Oleg Antipov, Alexander Bylin, Vladimir Zloba, Dmitry Tyazhelykh, Roman Solomko, and Artur Terchanyan—faced charges of terrorism and illegal arms trafficking. Solomko and Terchanyan were also accused of smuggling explosives.
Russian authorities alleged that the defendants assisted Ukraine in planning the attack. All of the accused professed their innocence, claiming they were unaware that the truck contained explosives, according to reports from Russian media. In a 2023 interview, Lt. Gen. Vasyl Maliuk, the head of the SBU, stated that he, along with two trusted members, had prepared the attack and utilized individuals without their awareness.
The military court located in Rostov-on-Don, about 100 kilometers (60 miles) east of the Ukrainian border, began the trial of the accused in February 2025, conducting proceedings behind closed doors. Russian authorities have accused Maliuk of being the mastermind behind the attack.
One defendant, Oleg Antipov, an entrepreneur whose logistics company handled the cargo transportation for the truck involved in the explosion, approached Russia’s Federal Security Service (FSB) immediately after the blast in an attempt to assist in the investigation, as he had been unable to contact the truck driver. Initially released by security officials, he was arrested days later. A video released by Mediazona showed Antipov fervently declaring his innocence in court, emphasizing, “We are innocent. We are innocent.” He contended that all eight defendants had passed polygraph tests proving their innocence and had fully cooperated with law enforcement, claiming, “Not a single person has testified against us.”
The Crimean Bridge holds substantial importance for Moscow, serving not only as a logistics key point but also carrying psychological significance as a major conduit for military and civilian supplies. It stands as a prominent assertion of Kremlin control over Crimea, which was illegally annexed in 2014. Following Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, the bridge became a target for Ukrainian forces, facing assault twice: first with a truck bomb in October 2022 and then again with sea drones in July 2023, resulting in two fatalities during the latter attack.
Spanning 19 kilometers (12 miles) over the Kerch Strait, the bridge connects the Black Sea and the Sea of Azov, facilitating road and rail traffic through separate sections. It is essential for sustaining Russia’s military operations in southern Ukraine. Recognized as the longest bridge in Europe, it symbolizes national pride for Russia, with construction beginning in 2016 shortly after the annexation of Crimea, finishing in just over two years despite significant objections from Ukraine. The bridge stands as the most visible reminder of Russia’s claim over Crimea.
