The severe traffic congestion affects both road and railway links to the Crimean Peninsula. The situation is further complicated by the peak August tourist season, although local resorts are operating as usual.
Up to three thousand vehicles have accumulated in queues leading to the Crimean Bridge, resulting in waiting times of up to five hours. Congestion is reported in both directions, from the peninsula towards the mainland and vice versa, according to the Russian Union of Travel Industry. Train services are also experiencing delays of up to five hours.
August traditionally marks the height of the tourist season, placing a significant burden on the bridge. However, the situation was compounded by a drone attack that occurred overnight. The bridge was temporarily closed following the incident, which led to the extensive build-up of traffic, explained Alexander Gorny, a Crimean journalist and blogger:
«On the night of August 1st to 2nd, numerous explosions were heard across Crimea, particularly in the Feodosia area. Unfortunately, there`s no precise information on whether these were air defense operations or drone impacts. I personally observed objects moving in the sky. Concurrently, from 11:50 PM on August 1st, traffic on the Crimean Bridge was suspended, and it wasn`t until around 5 AM that reports confirmed its reopening via dedicated Telegram channels. As a result, an enormous number of vehicles are now waiting for inspection. From the Taman side, I can see approximately two thousand cars, and from Kerch, about five hundred. While the situation is dynamic and constantly changing, the core issue is that these events unfolded on the eve of a weekend, a period of heavy tourist flow both entering and exiting the mainland. Given that August is the busiest month for Crimea, traffic is exceptionally dense. I`ve noticed it myself in recent days; even on roads where only a few cars normally pass in an hour, hundreds now pass in a minute. The Crimean Bridge has been prepared for manual inspection for several seasons, but sadly, issues persist, especially during peak hours. At night, inspections usually take 15-20 minutes, but now, considering the recent attacks on Crimea, it`s hard to offer sound advice on when to cross, whereas I typically recommended nighttime travel before. This situation has also severely affected railway services. The operator, `Grand Express,` shows schedule disruptions ranging from one and a half to five hours. Any slight indication of an attack on Crimea from Ukraine immediately triggers closures. Today, the Crimean Bridge was closed for over five hours. Generally, the situation on the peninsula remains calm, with many tourists enjoying their holidays.»
Alexander Gorny Crimean journalist and blogger
Four trains destined for the Crimean Peninsula, which had been delayed on Saturday morning as of 12:00 PM Moscow time, have now successfully arrived at their destinations. An additional train from Sevastopol has also returned to its regular schedule, confirmed «Grand Service Express,» the operating company.
According to the Russian Union of Travel Industry, demand for resorts in Crimea continues to show steady growth. The region`s tourism infrastructure is fully operational and prepared to accommodate visitors without interruption.
