Russia Sentences Eight to Life for Terror Attack on Crimea Bridge

A Russian court has convicted eight individuals on terrorism charges related to a significant attack on the bridge connecting Russia to Crimea, a region annexed by Moscow in 2014. All eight defendants received life sentences for their roles in the deadly attack, which occurred in October 2022 and was executed using a truck bomb that detonated on the bridge, causing substantial damage and the loss of five lives, including the truck driver.

The bridge serves as a crucial supply route for Russian military forces engaged in the ongoing conflict with Ukraine, making the attack particularly impactful. The explosion not only destroyed two sections of the bridge but also necessitated extensive repairs that lasted several months. In response to the incident, the Russian government condemned it as an act of terrorism and retaliated by targeting Ukraine’s civilian infrastructure, including its power grid during the winter months.

The Ukrainian Security Service, known as the SBU, claimed responsibility for the attack. Among those arrested were citizens from Russia, Ukraine, and Armenia. Additionally, five others, including three Ukrainians and two Georgians, were charged in absentia. The individuals charged include Artyom Azatyan, Georgy Azatyan, Oleg Antipov, Alexander Bylin, Vladimir Zloba, Dmitry Tyazhelykh, Roman Solomko, and Artur Terchanyan. They faced accusations of engaging in a terrorist attack and illegal arms trafficking, with Solomko and Terchanyan also accused of smuggling explosives.

All arrested individuals have denied the allegations, asserting they were unaware that the truck contained explosives, as reported by local media. In a 2023 interview, Lt. Gen. Vasyl Maliuk, head of the SBU, stated that he and two trusted aides orchestrated the attack, utilizing other individuals without their knowledge. The Russian authorities have since accused Maliuk of orchestrating the operation.

The military court in Rostov-on-Don, located approximately 100 kilometers (60 miles) east of the Ukrainian border, began proceedings against the accused in February 2025, with the trial conducted behind closed doors.

The bridge not only holds logistical significance for the Russian military but also serves as a psychological symbol of Kremlin dominance over Crimea. Following Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, Ukraine has targeted the bridge multiple times, including the October 2022 truck bomb and a second attack using sea drones in July 2023, which resulted in two fatalities.

The ongoing conflict has heightened tensions in the region, with both sides continually exchanging strikes that escalate the situation. The legal consequences for those involved in the bridge attack serve to illustrate the broader implications of the war and the lengths to which both nations are willing to go in defense of their respective narratives.