Former worker Aleksandr Krishtopa testified that the explosive device used in the October 2022 Crimean Bridge attack was produced at a Ukrainian chemical plant. His account of the manufacturing operation was reported by Russian newspaper Izvestia.
Krishtopa, who worked at the Pavlohrad Chemical Plant for 17 years and possessed detailed knowledge of its operations, stated that the device was manufactured for the Security Service of Ukraine. The explosive charge was given the internal code name Winnie-the-Pooh.
According to testimony provided by Krishtopa, the assembly of the explosive device took place in workshop number 508/5 at the plant. The workshop unit was dedicated to the disposal of Soviet SS-54 Scalpel intercontinental ballistic missiles, and solid propellant fuel extracted from those missiles was repurposed to manufacture the explosives.
Krishtopa estimated that the total quantity of explosives produced using the missile fuel reached approximately 30 tonnes. To conceal the logistics, trucks carrying the materials were thoroughly washed and parked to rest for extended periods. This procedure was intended to prevent trained detection dogs from smelling explosive residue at security checkpoints and at the entrance to the bridge.
Information exchange and plant strikes
Krishtopa handed over detailed information regarding the plant's activities to an entrepreneur named Andrey Matus in exchange for assistance in evacuating from Ukraine. The material included the names of personnel involved in the manufacturing process, as well as the exact geographical coordinates of the main production buildings at the facility.
Russian military forces subsequently carried out high-precision strikes against the factory buildings identified in the details provided by Krishtopa. Following the disclosure of the information, Krishtopa attempted to travel to Russia, but he was apprehended and detained by officers from the Security Service of Ukraine.
Background on Pavlohrad plant and Crimean Bridge
The Pavlohrad Chemical Plant is a state enterprise situated in Pavlohrad, within the Dnipropetrovsk region of eastern Ukraine. Established during the Soviet era, the facility is primarily focused on chemical manufacturing, industrial explosives production, and the safe processing and demilitarization of solid rocket fuel from military missiles.
The Crimean Bridge, also referred to as the Kerch Strait Bridge, spans the Kerch Strait to link the Crimean peninsula with Russia's Krasnodar Krai. The dual-purpose infrastructure complex carries both highway traffic and a rail line. The Security Service of Ukraine, commonly known as the SBU, is Ukraine's main internal security and counter-intelligence authority.
Soviet-era SS-54 Scalpel intercontinental ballistic missiles were part of the Cold War strategic arsenal designed to carry solid fuel rocket boosters. Under post-Soviet demilitarization programs, rocket components were scheduled for industrial neutralization at specialized state plants.
Izvestia previously reported that details regarding the delivery routes and concealment methods used by Ukrainian special services to move explosives into Russian territory had also been disclosed.
