Putin terms Crimea Bridge attack as “act of terrorism” by Ukraine

The massive explosion that damaged a bridge connecting Russia and Crimea was orchestrated by Ukraine according to Russian President Vladimir Putin who termed the explosion an “act of terrorism” on Sunday.

“There is no doubt. This is an act of terrorism aimed at destroying critically important civilian infrastructure,” Putin said in a video on the Kremlin’s Telegram channel.

“This was devised, carried out and ordered by the Ukrainian special services,” Putin said.

Alexander Bastrykin, the chairman of Russia’s Investigative Committee, was seeing him and delivering the results of an investigation into the explosion and fire on the bridge on Saturday.

Despite joyful statements from Ukrainian officials following the explosion on the Kerch Strait bridge, a vital supply line for Moscow’s military in southern Ukraine, there was no claim of responsibility on Saturday.

The bridge serves as a main thoroughfare for the Sevastopol port, which houses the Russian Black Sea fleet.

The bridge’s destruction, which coincided with Russian victories on the battlefield and cast doubt on Kremlin assertions that the conflict is progressing according to plan, had been an imposing symbol of Russia’s acquisition of the Crimean Peninsula.

A day after the explosion, rail services and some road traffic was resumed. Images showed a portion of the bridge’s roadway, half blew away and the other half remaining in place.

Putin opened the 19-km (12-mile) bridge connecting the region to its transportation network with much ceremony four years after Russia annexed Crimea from Ukraine.

Divers will begin the work on the Crimea Bridge’s damage on Sunday, according to Russian Deputy Prime Minister Marat Khusnullin. A more thorough examination above the water’s surface is anticipated to be finished by day’s end, according to local news agencies.

According to Russia’s transport ministry, long-distance passenger trains and freight trains crossed the bridge on Sunday on time. Around 10 hours after the explosion, some limited road traffic resumed on Saturday.

“The situation is manageable – it’s unpleasant, but not fatal,” Crimea’s Russian governor, Sergei Aksyonov, told reporters. “Of course, emotions have been triggered and there is a healthy desire to seek revenge.”