Russian President Vladimir Putin promised ‘action’ against what he dubbed a “terrorist attack” on Monday in response to the latest attack on the Crimean bridge for which Kyiv has accepted responsibility, according to CNN.
The 19-kilometre (12-mile) Kerch Bridge’s security was also ordered to be tightened. In a meeting with authorities on Monday, Putin stated, “Tonight another terrorist attack took place against the bridge.”
“Due to the terrorist attack, the roadway on several spans of the Crimean Bridge was seriously damaged. As a result, both car and railway traffic were temporarily stopped,” Putin said as reported by CNN.
The Russian President asked that the FSB and other government agencies look into the event and take steps to protect the “strategically important transport facility” against further attacks. “It is necessary to comprehensively assess the damage caused and start restoration work as quickly as possible,” Putin told.
Russia’s Ministery of Defence Prepares for retaliatory attack after Crimean Bridge Attack
Putin also promised that Russia will “respond” to the attack and that “The Ministry of Defence is preparing relevant proposals,” while speaking to officials. Putin further asserted that the bridge strike had no military importance.
“This is a senseless crime from the point of view of no significance since the Crimean bridge has long not been used for military transport and brutal since innocent civilians have been killed,” Putin was quoted by CNN.
Marat Khusnullin, the deputy prime minister of Russia, said on Monday that the bomb had no effect on the Kerch Straight Bridge’s supports. Divers were finishing up their assessment of the bridge, and a decision about whether to allow for vehicular traffic will be made in the next two hours, he said.
Following a Ukrainian security official’s claim of Kyiv’s involvement, the attack on the bridge connecting the annexed Crimean Peninsula to the Russian mainland has prompted a response from President Putin. Russian-appointed authorities report that the incident resulted in the death of a couple and left their daughter injured.
Second attack on Crimean Bridge since Russia launched its ‘Special Operation’ against Ukraine
Since Russia began its ‘special operation’ in Ukraine, there have been two attacks on the bridge. The most recent one was on Monday. The Kerch Bridge, the longest in Europe at approximately twelve miles, is of paramount strategic and symbolic significance to Moscow.
According to the Telegram channel Grey Zone, which supports the Wagner mercenary organisation commanded by Yevgeny Prigozhin, two attacks were apparently made at roughly 3 am local time on Monday (8 pm ET Sunday), destroying a portion of the bridge.
CNN reported that explosions were heard at approximately 3:04 am and 3:20 am local time, as stated by the Telegram channel ‘TalipoV Online Z,’ a well-known Crimean blogger in the Grey Zone region.
