Putin Issues Instructions Regarding Emergency Incident on Crimean Bridge

Russian President Vladimir Putin has ordered the creation of a governmental commission related to the accident on the Crimean Bridge, the head of state’s press secretary Dmitry Peskov announced on Saturday.

“Concerning the emergency situation on the Crimean Bridge, Vladimir Putin has received reports from the Prime Minister of Russia Mikhail Mishustin, Deputy Prime Minister Marat Khusnullin, Minister of Emergency Situations Alexander Kurenkov, and the Transport Minister Gennady Saveliev, as well as from the heads of law enforcement agencies,” Peskov said, adding that the president has instructed the Prime Minister to form a governmental commission to clarify the causes of the incident and to eliminate its consequences as quickly as possible.

The commission will also include the heads of the Krasnodar Territory and Crimea, as well as representatives from the National Guard, FSB, and the Ministry of Internal Affairs.

“On behalf of the head of state, Ministers Saveliev and Kurenkov have traveled to the scene,” Peskov stated.

Earlier on Saturday, the National Anti-Terrorism Committee reported that a truck had exploded on the Crimean Bridge in the early morning, igniting a fire in seven fuel tanks of a train. There has been partial collapse of two automobile spans of the bridge. The arch of the land section of the bridge was undamaged.

Preliminary information from regional authorities indicates that there are no casualties or injuries resulting from the incident.