Vladimir Putin has accused Ukraine of an ‘act of terrorism’ over the explosion on Kerch Bridge, which connects mainland Russia and Crimea.
The Russian president claimed Ukrainian secret services were behind the blast that ruined the ‘critically important civilian infrastructure’ in the early hours of Saturday.
In a video of a meeting with the chairman of Russia’s investigative committee, the leader said: ‘There is no doubt it was a terrorist act directed at the destruction of critically important civilian infrastructure.
‘This was devised, carried out and ordered by the Ukrainian special services.’
Alexander Bastrykin said he had opened a criminal case into what he described as ‘act of terrorism’ in which Ukrainian special services and Russian citizens and other countries took part.
He claimed an internal probe ‘has already established the route of the truck’, which Russian authorities said set off a bomb on the 12-mile bridge.
Mr Bastrykin said the vehicle had travelled through Bulgaria, Georgia, Armenia, North Ossetia, Krasnodar (a region in southern Russia) and other places.
Putin’s comments come just hours after his spokesperson said he will hold an emergency security council meeting tomorrow.
The Kremlin previously warned any attack on the Kerch Bridge would be a red line and trigger ‘judgement day’.
Ukraine has not yet officially claimed responsibility for the explosion, which killed three people, but a number of officials revelled in Russia’s humiliation.
Mykhailo Podolyak, adviser to Volodymyr Zelensky, tweeted shortly after Putin’s comments: ‘Putin accuses Ukraine of terrorism? Sounds too cynical even for Russia.
‘Less than 24 hours ago Russian planes hit a residential area of Zaporizhzhia with 12 missiles, killing 13 people and injuring more than 50.
‘There is only one terrorist state here and the whole world knows who it is.’
European leaders were quick to condemn Russia’s attack on Zaporizhzhia.
Estonian president Alar Karis stressed this is not just a war but ‘a crime against humanity, the organizer of which will be punished’.
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