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Russia investigates bridge collapse amid more shelling

{O/C} We're learning more about the deadly blast that assailed the Crimea bridge yesterday and killed three people.


As Russia has initiated a probe into the explosion, it unleashed not only a barrage of criticism, but shelling as well.


{Take SOT}

More videos emerged of what's now a smouldering wreck.


A truck bomb was seen detonated, obliterating two sections of the Crimea bridge and setting them on fire.


The onslaught killed at least three people, two of whom were in a vehicle on the bridge.


Now, Russia is investigating who perpetrated the blast, which came as a glaring humiliation for Russian President Vladimir Putin, who, a day before the blast, turned 70.


It has identified the owner of the truck that blew up.


{Soundbite}

SVETLANA PETRENKO, Voice of Interpretor, Russian Investigative Committee:

This morning, a truck exploded on the road section of the Crimea Bridge from the side of the Taman Peninsula.


This set seven fuel tanks of a train travelling in the direction of Crimea on fire.


{VO}

The 19-kilometre Kerch Bridge straddling the Black Sea and the Sea of Azov, is monumental to Russia's 2014 annexation of Crimea.


With a hefty 3.6-billion-dollar price tag the bridge is also the longest in Europe.


The bridge's partial collapse has amounted to a dispiriting setback for Russia, which frequently transports military equipment to Russian soldiers in Ukraine using that bridge.


Russian divers will be inspecting the damage wreaked by the powerful blast.


Putin has also signed a decree boosting security for the bridge and energy infrastructure between Crimea and Russia to ward off more attacks.


Hours later, Russia's Defence Ministry installed new Gen. Sergei Surovikin, notorious for his ruthless bombardment of Aleppo in Syria.


What's more, the chief advisor to Ukraine's President insinuated in a tweet, the bridge had to be destroyed one way or another.


As both sides pelted each other with allegations, Russia's state TV played down the blast.


No one has claimed responsibility for the attack so far.


Still, Russian rockets flattened homes and killed at least 17 in Zaporizhzhia.


This as Ukrainians are jubilant over the bridge's partial collapse.

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