After the explosion on the Crimean bridge, Vladimir Putin accuses the Ukrainian secret service of “terrorist act”

A “terrorist act” against key infrastructure. Russian President Vladimir Putin on Sunday (October 9th) accused the Ukrainian secret services of being behind the powerful explosion that 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. Russia had so far refrained from accusing kyiv of this attack which killed three people, and Ukraine has not claimed responsibility.

“There is no doubt” on the nature of this explosion, insisted Vladimir Putin, in a video broadcast on Telegram by the Kremlin. The Federal Investigative Committee claims that the truck notably crossed Bulgaria, Georgia, Armenia and the Krasnodar Territory (Russia) before heading towards the Crimean Bridge, a road and rail link linking Russia to this peninsula annexed in 2014. This bridge is also used for logistical transport for Russian troops fighting in Ukraine.

“This is a terrorist act prepared by the Ukrainian secret service. The aim was to destroy a large civil infrastructure that is very important for Russia”, abounded on Sunday the head of the Russian Investigation Committee, Alexander Bastrykin, during his meeting with Vladimir Putin. Aleksandr Bastrikine also accuses “Russian and foreign nationals” to have participated in the preparations, alongside the Ukrainian secret services.