UPDATE 2 - Huge fire erupts on strategic bridge linking Crimea to Russia

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By Burak Bir

ANKARA (AA) - A bridge connecting Crimea to Russia caught fire early Saturday morning causing suspension of traffic.

The Kerch Bridge -- a pair of parallel bridges, one road and one railroad -- is a key supply route for Russia which was built after Crimea's annexation in 2014.

Footage and images, widely shared on social media, show that a road section collapsed and train carriages were burning on the bridge, which is the longest in Europe.

A huge explosion was heard before the massive fire broke out, according to eye-witnesses and video footage.

Train services to Crimea were temporarily suspended in the aftermath of the explosion and ticket sales were paused, according to the Russian Railways.

Authorities also cancelled bus trips from Crimea.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has ordered the formation of a state commission to investigate the incident, official news agency TASS cited Kremlin Spokesman Dmitry Peskov as saying.

- 'Crime supplied with fuel, stocks of essential goods'

Oleg Kryuchkov, an adviser to Russian-annexed Crimea’s leadership, said on Telegram that a fuel storage tank has caught fire, according to preliminary reports.

"Navigable arches were not damaged. It is too early to speak about causes and consequences. Work to extinguish the blaze is underway," he added.

Russia's Energy Ministry said Crimea was supplied with at least 15 days of fuel.

Also, Crimea has a two-month supply of essential goods, authorities said.

Russia's Transport Ministry said they are assessing the damage caused on the bridge.

- 'Just the beginning'

Although Ukraine did not directly claim responsibility for the attack, multiple statements by top Ukrainian officials pointed to the possibility.

Ukraine's senior presidential adviser Mykhailo Podolyak said what happened on the bridge is just "the beginning."

"Everything illegal must be destroyed, everything stolen must be returned to Ukraine, everything occupied by Russia must be expelled," Podolyak said in a tweet.

Ukraine's National Security and Defense Council Secretary Oleksiy Danilov shared a video split in two parts, with one side displaying the fire on the bridge and the other side playing Marilyn Monroe's famous "Happy Birthday Mr. President" song.

"Putin should be happy. Not everyone gets such an expensive present on their birthday," a Ukrainian official told the New York Times speaking on the condition of anonymity.

On Friday, the Russian president turned 70.