(Reuters) – Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Sunday that the explosion at a key bridge linking Crimea with Russian territory was a terrorist act planned by Ukrainian special services.
“There’s no doubt. This is an act of terrorism aimed at destroying critically important civilian infrastructure,” Putin said in a video on the Kremlin’s Telegram channel. “This was planned, executed and ordered by the Ukrainian special services.”
Putin was meeting with Alexander Bastrykin, head of Russia’s Investigative Committee, who presented the findings of an inquiry into the explosion and fire that partially destroyed the bridge on Saturday.
What is known about the explosion
The explosion early on Saturday (8) caused parts of Europe’s longest bridge to collapse, according to images and videos.
The exact cause of the explosion is unclear. Russian officials said a fuel truck exploded, but two sections of the crossing towards Crimea appear to have collapsed. A later fire involved a train of fuel trucks on a separate part of the bridge.
Images of the Kerch Bridge posted on social media appear to show that part of the road and rail bridge fell into the water. Flames could be seen burning from cars above.
Main transport links between mainland Russia and the annexed Crimea peninsula – including buses and trains – were suspended after the blast. Weather conditions in the Kerch Strait are hampering Russia’s plans to use ferries to reach Crimea from Krasnodar, according to Russian state media.
Ukrainian side
Ukrainian officials began responding to the fire without directly acknowledging that Ukraine was responsible for the explosion. Among the responses, the Navy of the Armed Forces of Ukraine posted on Facebook: “Air defense of the Russian Federation, are you sleeping?” alongside a video showing a stretch of road from the bridge that had been completely destroyed.
In a brief post on its official Twitter account, the Ukrainian Defense Ministry reacted to the blast, saying: “The guided missile cruiser Moskva and the Kerch Bridge – two notorious symbols of Russian power in Ukrainian Crimea – have fallen. What’s next in line, Russians?”
Gallery: See images of the explosion on the bridge linking Russia and Crimea
Source: CNN Brasil
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