Russian authorities cite ‘exercises’ after Crimean Bridge closed to traffic and area fills with smoke

Sergey Aksyonov, the Kremlin-appointed governor of annexed Crimea, said that traffic was closed on the Kerch Strait Bridge for several hours on Wednesday morning “due to exercises being carried out in the area.”

Eyewitnesses reportedly observed smoke in the area surrounding the bridge.

Local authorities on the Russian side of the strait announced that traffic had resumed as normal at 11:00 a.m. local time and that the smoke was related to the exercises.