A military court in Rostov-on-Don has sentenced eight defendants to life imprisonment for their alleged roles in the Crimea Bridge bombing, a pivotal attack that struck the Kerch Strait link in October 2022.
Russia considers the bridge — which connects the mainland to Moscow-annexed Crimea — a critical supply route for military operations in Ukraine.
The attack, triggered by a truck bomb, destroyed two sections of the bridge, killed five people, and required months of repairs. Moscow labelled the explosion an act of terrorism and later launched extensive strikes on Ukraine’s energy grid.
Defendants Maintain Innocence
The court convicted Artyom and Georgy Azatyan, Oleg Antipov, Alexander Bylin, Vladimir Zloba, Dmitry Tyazhelykh, Roman Solomko, and Artur Terchanyan on terrorism and weapons-related charges.
All eight have consistently denied involvement, saying they did not know the truck contained explosives.
A video published by Mediazona shows defendant Oleg Antipov, a logistics company owner, addressing the court:
“We are innocent… all 116 volumes say we are innocent. Show the people the truth.”
Antipov, who voluntarily approached the FSB after the blast when he could not reach the driver, was initially released before later being arrested. He and his co-defendants say they cooperated fully and passed polygraph tests.
Ukraine Previously Claimed Responsibility
The Ukrainian Security Service (SBU) has openly acknowledged orchestrating the Crimea Bridge bombing.
In a 2023 interview, SBU chief Lt. Gen. Vasyl Maliuk said he and two trusted officers prepared the operation, using unwitting intermediaries for parts of the mission. Russia has since accused Maliuk of direct involvement.
Five additional suspects — three Ukrainian and two Georgian nationals — were charged in absentia.
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Kerch Bridge Remains a Strategic and Symbolic Target
The 19-kilometre Kerch Strait bridge is the longest in Europe and a symbol of Russia’s claim over Crimea, which it annexed in 2014. It supports both rail and road traffic and plays a central role in Moscow’s military logistics in southern Ukraine.
Ukraine has targeted the bridge twice since Russia’s full-scale invasion began:
- October 2022 — the truck bomb attack
- July 2023 — a sea-drone strike that killed two people
Both incidents underscored the vulnerability of the structure despite heavy security.
A Closed-Door Trial
The trial began in February 2025 behind closed doors, limiting public access to evidence. Russian authorities maintain the eight defendants knowingly aided Ukrainian intelligence in the plot — a claim defense teams and independent media say remains unproven in open court.
The verdict has already drawn criticism from human-rights observers who argue that the lack of transparency and the defendants’ repeated claims of innocence raise concerns about due process.
