大象传媒

The Kerch bridge, a vital supply route for Russian forces in Crimea, has been partially destroyed in a huge blast. It was a symbol of Russia鈥檚 annexation of Crimea from Ukraine, and the explosion was equally symbolic, coming just one day after President Putin鈥檚 70th birthday.
The Russian president described it as 鈥渁n act of terrorism鈥�, and he punished Ukraine鈥檚 cities with a day of missile strikes, targeting civilian areas.
All this comes as Putin鈥檚 Special Military Operation is struggling. Ukraine has now seized back more territory than Russia took in the early stages of the war.
Hundreds of thousands of Russian army reservists have fled rather than being sent to the front, war deaths and the financial costs of the war are mounting, and winter is approaching.
But for President Putin, there is no easy exit from Ukraine. He may have no political choice but to double down, and has even dropped dark hints about using nuclear weapons.
So this week on the Inquiry we ask: Is Putin鈥檚 war in Ukraine at a turning point?

Presenter: Tanya Beckett
Producer: Ravi Naik
Researcher: Christopher Blake
Editor: Tara McDermott
Technical Producer: Mitch Goodall
Broadcast Coordinator: Jacqui Johnson

(Image: Huge fire erupts on strategic bridge linking Crimea to Russia: Credit: Anadolu Agency/Getty)