A bridge linking Russia and Crimea has been blown up in a massive explosion carried out by Ukraine’s special forces.The 12-mile-long Crimean Bridge, or Kerch Bridge, links Russia with the occupied peninsula which Russian troops annexed in 2014.

Ukraine is claiming an underwater explosion that closed down a bridge connecting Russia to Crimea, according to security officials. This comes after both countries reportedly made little progress in direct peace talks held on Monday.

Explosions in the morning and afternoon rocked the symbolic bridge, but after several hours of closure, authorities said the span connecting Crimea to Russia, had reopened.