Russian President Vladimir Putin accused kyiv on Sunday, October 9, of having committed a “terrorist act” by organizing the explosion which partially destroyed, on Saturday, the Crimean bridge linking Russia to the annexed peninsula, followed in the night by deadly Russian strikes against a Ukrainian city. Franceinfo takes stock of the day’s news on the frontline of the war in Ukraine.
Vladimir Putin accuses kyiv of ‘terrorism’
Russian President Vladimir Putin accused Ukraine’s secret service of being behind the powerful blast which damaged the Crimean Bridge on Saturday. “The authors, performers and sponsors are the Ukrainian secret services”Vladimir Putin said during a meeting with the head of the Russian Investigative Committee, according to a video released by the Kremlin.
This was Vladimir Putin’s first reaction to the explosion which occurred early Saturday morning, and which constitutes a new major setback for Russia, at a time when its forces are in difficulty in Ukraine. The Kremlin said the Russian president was convening the Security Council on Monday, which brings together the main ministers, political leaders and representatives of the security services and the army.
Traffic resumes on the Crimean Bridge
The day after the huge explosion on the Crimean bridge, divers had to examine the structure to assess the structural damage. While the Russian Ministry of Transport claimed that passenger trains “circulated according to the usual plan”. Automobile and rail traffic had partially resumed on Saturday, a few hours after the explosion which had caused one of the roadways of this bridge built at great expense to collapse on several spans, inaugurated by Vladimir Putin in 2018.
The FSB denounces a “considerable increase” in Ukrainian fire
The Russian security services (FSB) denounced a “considerable increase” Ukrainian fire targeting Russian territories bordering Ukraine. “During the past week, more than 100 bombardments of 32 localities have been recorded, with the use of multiple rocket launcher systems, artillery, mortars and drones”, is it mentioned in an FSB statement, which says that these shots killed one person and injured five.
This is especially the region of Belgorod, bordering that of Kharkiv in Ukraine, where the forces of kyiv have regained thousands of square kilometers of territory since the beginning of September, including up to the border. The Russian regions of Bryansk and Kursk are also targeted, according to the FSB.
New deadly bombardments on Zaporizhia
Deadly Russian shelling hit the city of Zaporizhia again, three days after previous strikes. A final report from the regional administration of Zaporijjia reports 13 dead and 60 injured, including women and children.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky for his part reported 12 dead and 49 people, including six children, taken to hospital. “No sense. Absolute evil. Terrorists and savages. From the one who gave this order to the one who executed it. All have a responsibility. Before the law and before the people”, wrote the Ukrainian president on his Telegram account. This Russian Strike “destroyed private apartments, where people lived, slept without attacking anyone”, he added.