Queue for customs inspection exceeds five hours in duration
Traffic Chaos at Crimea's Kerch Strait Crossing
The Kerch Strait crossing, also known as the Crimean Bridge, has been facing significant traffic disruptions in recent times. As of August 2025, multiple attacks and blasts have caused temporary closures and long vehicle queues.
Currently, there are approximately 3500 vehicles in line to enter Crimea. This number has been on the rise, with an increase of 1000 units in the past two hours. The waiting time to enter Crimea on the Taman side is over six hours, while on the Kerch side, it is over three hours.
The bridge, which serves as the direct land connection between Russia and Crimea, has been under increased pressure due to higher tourist and civilian traffic this year. This has resulted in heavy congestion, further exacerbated by the recent incidents.
The operational Telegram channel covering the situation at the Crimean Bridge reported these figures. To ensure safe passage, the number of inspection points before the bridge has been increased.
In June 2025, an underwater explosive attack on the bridge foundations caused damage but only resulted in hours-long disruption. Despite these incidents, traffic resumed relatively quickly, including after a more than five-hour halt due to blasts in Kerch and Feodosia on August 1, 2025.
The Crimean Bridge remains a focal point for geopolitical tension and military actions, with Ukraine targeting it multiple times as part of operations against Russian infrastructure in Crimea. These security concerns have periodically affected the bridge's throughput and safety, influencing traffic and waiting times.
Analysts have identified the most favorable hours for crossing the Crimean Bridge from August 4 to 10. However, precise current waiting time estimates are unavailable, and travelers should anticipate possible long delays during incident-related closures and peak travel periods.
Cargo transport is being directed to Crimea via new Russian Federation regions or through the Kerch ferry crossing. It's worth noting that on Tuesday, there were practically no lines on the Kerch side.
The highest congestion was observed on Monday from 1:00 PM to 2:00 PM on the Taman side, with waiting times reaching 4 hours. Increased traffic intensity in the direction of Crimea was also noted throughout Monday, until midday on Tuesday, and on Sunday.
Queue lengths at the Crimean Bridge have been increasing since the start of the summer tourist season. Despite these challenges, the bridge remains operational, underlining its critical role as a vital link between Russia and Crimea.
- Despite the ongoing traffic disruptions at the Crimean Bridge, caused by attacks and blasts, the number of vehicles seeking to enter Crimea continues to rise, with approximately 3500 vehicles currently in line.
- The increased pressure on the Crimean Bridge, due to higher tourist and civilian traffic this year, has resulted in heavy congestion, making travel through the bridge challenging and causing long waiting times.
