What if Russian takes out the Kerch Bridge?

[OAITW r.2.0]

2MM Russians unable to GTFO of Crimera. Now Ukraine has to deal with the humanitarian aspects of this. I wouldn't be shocked if Putin approves this plan.

On edit: exactly 33,000 posts, not counting my posts as Old and In the Way (37,540) since 2/2002. Hope you've been entertained.

[LetMyPeopleVote]

1. The Kerch Bridge is not being destroyed so as to allow Russian assholes escape from Crimera

[Igel]

3. But the OP asks a non-trivial question.

What if Putin opts to make it unusable.

I think the answer to that follows a few different paths.

The first is the 'humanitarian' aspect. It would trap a lot of Russians. Yes, it would be a humanitarian nightmare for Ukraine--but if Putin couldn't convincingly claim it was a Ukrainian op to Russians, it wouldn't go well. And if Putin didn't take serious efforts to provision the Russian pop in Crimea, that would also not go well. Even just saying, "It's too dangerous!" would be seen as spineless.

The second is the military side of things. Part of the Ukraine invasion in 2022 was launched from there--not as spectacularly newsworthy as along the eastern border, but still significant. A lot of logistic support to the Russian military in southern Ukraine still get routed through Crimea, even with the Kerch bridge under the gun and with the railroad use limited. Trashing that supply route would also be bad news for Russia's military and very demoralizing to the troops supplied by bridge traffic.

I only see Putin taking it out if somehow Ukraine establishes a beach head on the eastern side of the strait and the bridge becomes a Ukrainian supply route.

[okaawhatever]

8. When the invasion started I read that Crimea held a large retired

military population. They probably assisted in invasion. I don’t see Putin trying to screw over that group.

[niyad]

2. Congratulations on your 30,000 post milestone.

Since it is essentially putler's bridge, which he ordered built after illegally annexing Crimea, and officially opened himself, do you think it likely he would order it destroyed?

[Torchlight]

4. I think Putin is more calculating, and realizes the abandonment

of that many citizens would be more domestic trouble to quell in his own nation than would be placed on Kiev's lap, possibly resulting in a catastrophic and immediate loss of popular public support.

[maxsolomon]

5. You think Putin would destroy a bridge he built to cement his occupation

in order to trap Russian emigrants in Crimea?

I'll be charitable and say that's a stretch.

[OAITW r.2.0]

6. Thanks for going easy on me.

Just asking "what ifs" ?

[Crunchy Frog]

7. I don't believe Putin's ego would allow it.

I think he views it as an extension of his own penis.