Russian President Putin Calls Attack on Crimean Bridge an Act of Terrorism

The attack on the Crimean bridge caused significant damage, says Russian President Vladimir Putin. He calls the attack an act of terrorism.

The bridge over the Kerch Strait, which connects Russia with the occupied Crimean peninsula, was attacked on Monday. Russia accuses Ukraine of being behind it.

In a televised statement, Putin called the attack “a senseless and cruel act” and said Russia was preparing “a response”.

The Russian president further says that work to repair the bridge will start as soon as possible, and he advocates stricter security measures at the strategically important bridge.

Russian Deputy Prime Minister Marat Khusnullin says the bridge should be fully repaired by November 1, and that it should open to traffic in one direction by September 15.

Photos show extensive damage to the roadway, and the bridge is closed to all traffic. A pair of parents who were driving over the bridge when the attack came were killed while their daughter was injured.

The BBC and Ukrainian media cite an unnamed source from Ukraine’s security service as saying that the Ukrainian intelligence service and the defense are behind Monday’s attack and that drone ships were used. Neither Ukraine nor independent sources have confirmed this.

It is the second time the bridge has been destroyed in an attack. On 8 October last year, it was heavily damaged in a violent explosion and subsequent fire.