Russian President Vladimir Putin has accused Ukraine of causing the powerful explosion that damaged a bridge linking Russia and Crimea, describing the blast as an “act of terrorism”.
“There is no doubt. This is an act of terrorism aimed at destroying important civilian infrastructure,” Putin said in a video on the Kremlin’s Telegram channel, foreign media reported.
“This was conceived, carried out and ordered by the Ukrainian special services”, added the Russian president.
He was meeting Alexander Bastrykin, the head of Russia’s Investigative Committee, who was presenting the findings of an investigation into Saturday’s explosion and fire at the bridge.
The explosion on the bridge over the Kerch Strait, a key supply route for Moscow’s forces in southern Ukraine, had prompted messages of excitement from Ukrainian officials on Saturday but no claim of responsibility.
The damage to the bridge, which had been an imposing symbol of Russia’s annexation of the Crimean peninsula, came amid Russian losses on the battlefield.