The Crimean road and rail bridge, also known as the Kerch bridge, that links the Russian mainland to Crimea was attacked on Monday. 

Former Russian president Dmitry Medvedev said the top leadership of "terrorist formations" should be destroyed, while Russia's Foreign Ministry suggested the UK and U.S. had assisted Kyiv.

Moscow said two drones had hit the bridge, killing a couple and wounding their daughter. 

Ukraine's military suggested Russia was responsible, but Ukrainian media said Ukrainian security services had used maritime drones to hit the bridge that had only recently returned to full operation after suffering severe damage in a similar incident nine months ago.

WHAT HAPPENED TO THE BRIDGE IN 2022?

In October last year, the bridge was damaged in a powerful blast, with Russian officials saying the explosion was caused by a truck that blew up while crossing the bridge. Three people were killed.

Putin branded it a "terrorist attack" orchestrated by Ukrainian security services and ordered a wave of retaliatory strikes on Ukrainian cities, including the capital Kyiv.

Months later, Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy claimed only indirectly that his country was responsible, listing the bridge as one of his armys's "successes" in 2022.

WHAT'S THE HISTORY OF THE BRIDGE?

The 19-kilometer bridge over the Kerch Strait is the only direct link between the transport network of Russia and the Crimean Peninsula, which Moscow absorbed from Ukraine in 2014.

The bridge was a flagship project for Putin, who opened it himself for road traffic with great fanfare by driving a truck across in 2018 and telling workers they had performed "a miracle."

It consists of a separate roadway and railway, both supported by concrete stilts, which give way to a wider span held by steel arches at the point where ships pass between the Black Sea and the smaller Azov Sea.

The structure was built at a reported cost of $3.6bn by a firm belonging to Arkady Rotenberg, a close ally and former judo partner of Putin.

WHY DOES THE BRIDGE MATTER?

The bridge is crucial for the supply of fuel, food and other products to Crimea, where the port of Sevastopol is the historic home base of Russia's Black Sea Fleet.

It also became a major supply route for Russian forces after the start of the Ukraine conflict in February 2022 when they sent their armies from Crimea to control most of southern Ukraine's Kherson region and some of the adjoining Zaporizhzhia province.

The bridge has huge symbolic significance. It was a physical expression of Putin's objectives and Russia's celebrations were huge in 2014 to reflect this. 

For Ukrainians, the bridge has negative connotations and last October's explosion, which briefly crippled the bridge, was greeted with euphoria across Ukraine.

READ MORE

EXPLAINER: Who sabotaged Nord Stream pipeline?

EXPLAINER: What is depleted uranium?

EXPLAINER: What are tactical nuclear weapons?

Despite predictions that bridge repairs could last for months, work on the damaged road spans was wrapped up swiftly – a sign of the importance the Kremlin clearly attaches to the structure. 

Symbols and military operations aside, Russia will also be keen to get the bridge up and running again because of the holiday season. Many Russians head to the Crimean peninsula in the summer and usually go over the bridge.

Russian officials are encouraging holidaymakers stranded in Crimea to drive home through occupied Ukraine. Putin has ordered authorities to repair the road and help those stuck tourists.

As the conflict drags on, with weapons becoming more diversified and army strategies evolving, the Crimea Bridge will continue to be of huge importance to Ukraine and Russia.

Subscribe to Storyboard: A weekly newsletter bringing you the best of CGTN every Friday