State TV showed pictures of enormous traffic jams in southern Russia as visitors queued in their automobiles for hours to cross across to start their summer vacations in the days before Monday's attack on Russia's road and rail crossing to Crimea.

It broadcast traffic jams going in a different direction as tourists attempted to drive home through Russian-controlled southern Ukraine, territory that Kyiv is fighting to retake, after explosions tore through the road bridge, killing a couple who had planned to vacation in Crimea and injuring their daughter.

Russian visitors were using the Chonhar bridge, which was briefly disabled by a missile attack last month, to return home, according to state-run news agency RIA, which reported a tailback of more than 5 kilometres (3 miles) in length.

The Crimean Bridge attack, the country's second since sending troops into Ukraine, was attributed by Moscow to Kyiv. Although Ukraine did not formally take the blame, Ukrainian media reported that marine drones had been used by Ukrainian security forces.

Vladimir Saldo, the newly-installed Russian governor of the Ukrainian province of Kherson, announced on state television that air defense and other security measures will be tightened up on the overland route to Crimea.

The authorities have been attempting to draw tourists to the Black Sea peninsula, which Russia seized and unilaterally annexed from Ukraine in 2014. It is unclear, though, whether this will reassure them.

The attack strikes at the notion, promoted by Moscow, that a peninsula renowned for its rough environment, gorgeous bays, warm weather, and wines can be enjoyed safely at a time when Russians' options to travel to the West are constrained due to visa prohibitions and flight restrictions.

More than 9 million Russian visitors came to Ukraine in 2021, but Kyiv claims they have no business vacationing there while the country is being bombarded.

Crimean hotels have been giving substantial discounts to entice travelers while Ukrainian drones have been targeting the region for months. The assault on Monday won't help.

The leader of Crimea's Laspi travel operator, Elena Bazhenova, issued a statement saying, "We have cancellations for the end of July and August." "We are convincing visitors to avoid making choices based on their emotions. We anticipate a return to normalcy.

The Russian Union of Travel Industry's head, Ilya Umansky, predicted "significant" cancellations.

He claimed that 20,000 visitors were about to finish their vacations in Crimea and another 20,000 would be arriving soon.

Even as the military's presence expands, Moscow has made investments in the peninsula's infrastructure to boost tourism and highlight the purported benefits of being a Russian citizen.

Crimean Bridge, a prestige undertaking for President Vladimir Putin. The bridge also serves as a supply route for the Russian troops in Ukraine.

Simferopol's major airport, which serves Crimea, has long been shut down for security concerns, making its continued operation essential.

Although trains are still running, unconfirmed video footage shared on social media reveals that at least one piece of the road is down in one direction.

Repairs from a similar incident in October took many months.

Although there is a car ferry service that crosses the Kerch Strait, it has far less capacity. Numerous Russian cities in the west offer train connection to Crimea.