Occupiers in Crimea close access to Arabat Spit for civilians

Russian "operational headquarters" of the occupied Crimea has banned the passage of civilians to the Arabat Spit, which connects the eastern part of the peninsula with the Kherson region.

That's according to Interfax, citing the FSB's Border Guard Department for Crimea, Ukrinform reports. 

It is specified that this decision will come into force at 20:00 on July 31. From now on, only emergency services personnel and citizens performing defense and emergency response work will be able to get to the spit.

According to the argumentation of the "FSB Border Directorate", the restrictions are imposed under a special order and are "necessary to localize security threats" to the Crimean population, military and other facilities in the area.

Read also: Ukraine preparing steps to quickly reintegrate Crimea into its state fabric – Zelensky

The Arabat Spit is a narrow and long strip of land in the northeastern part of the Crimean peninsula, consisting mainly of shell material and separating the Sivash Bay from the Sea of Azov.