The Russian National Anti-Terrorism Committee said on social media that the blast occurred at 6:07 a.m. (0307 GMT) in a freight truck, and caused seven fuel tanker wagons to catch fire on a train heading for the peninsula.
There have been no reports on casualties, or whether this was a suicide terror strike or some other sort of operation. Similarly, Ukraine has not taken credit for the explosion.
The Russian news agency TASS, however, has acknowledged substantial damage to the bridge, although it is not completely inoperable. Traffic across the bridge is limited, however.
Implications for the message
Traffic on the automobile and railway parts of the Crimean bridge is limited .
Shipping in the Kerch Strait was not blocked , the ferry crossing through it resumes work - the first ferry from Crimea has already begun the passage for loading, three more are preparing to leave.
The maritime services of the Krasnodar Territory told TASS that at least four or five ferries would be used to organize communication with Crimea, and "a couple more from Sevastopol" could arrive.
All trains to and from Crimea have been canceled in the near future, ticket sales have been suspended, Russian Railways said. The company clarified that passengers will be able to return tickets for delayed or canceled trains without additional fees and charges.
Suburban railway communication with Crimea has also been suspended until the consequences of the state of emergency are eliminated.
The timing of the restoration of the bridge will become clear after the fire is extinguished and an examination is carried out, Aksenov said.
The situation on the peninsula
The Crimean authorities said that the peninsula is provided with a supply of fuel and food, and logistics schemes in case of an emergency have been worked out.
Stocks of essential products in the Crimea will last for 55 days, but in order to "avoid artificial excitement" up to three kilograms of groceries will be sold to one hand, the republican Ministry of Industrial Policy said. Later, adviser to the head of Crimea, Kryuchkov, denied the information about the restrictions and promised "additional clarifications."
Gasoline and diesel fuel in the Crimea, according to the Ministry of Energy, will last for 15 days. Republican authorities have promised that the supply of fuel from the mainland will be organized.
In Sevastopol, the sale of gasoline in cans and groceries was limited, Governor Mikhail Razvozhaev said.
Accommodation of holidaymakers in sanatoriums and hotels of Crimea, whose term of stay is expiring, will be extended due to the incident on the Crimean bridge, all costs will be compensated at the expense of the republic.
The Russian Union of the Tourism Industry reported that in the next three to four days about 4,000 vacationers were planning to leave Crimea and the same number were going to arrive on it. Organizations do not expect critical difficulties with the departure.
Two points are significant here: Crimea has it is presumed roughly two months of food and essentials on the peninsula, and approximately two weeks of gas and diesel. The damage to the bridge apparently is anticipated by the Russians to inhibit the flow of necessaries to Crimea.
The other point is that travel to Crimea is effectively halted for civilians.
Crimea is not totally cut off—but it appears to have just become a considerably less hospitable place to be. If this explosion is a Ukrainian asymmetric attack, it looks to be an highly impactful one.
Nord Stream and now this. Are Russian reprisals on the horizon?