Putin deems Crimean Bridge attack 'terrorist', vows to respond
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The Russian leader says he expects to see proposals on how to increase security in the Crimean Bridge area.
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Russian President Vladimir Putin (TASS)
Russian President Vladimir Putin confirmed on Monday that a terrorist attack targeted the Crimean Bridge and left a child orphaned.
"Of course, there will be a response from Russia. The defence ministry is preparing relevant proposals," he added.
"I am waiting for specific proposals to improve the security of this strategic, important transport facility."
On Monday, the Russian National Anti-Terrorism Committee said Kiev carried out a terrorist attack on the Crimean Bridge using two underwater drones.
The Committee noted that the road part of the bridge was damaged, two adults were killed, and one child was injured.
"Last night, another terrorist act was committed on the bridge. Civilians were killed. A child was wounded and left without parents. The family was traveling to the Crimea from the Belgorod Region," Putin said during a meeting regarding the Crimean Bridge attack.
The Russian leader added that he expects to see proposals on how to increase security in the area since the facility suffered its second terrorist attack.
He also instructed Russia’s Investigative Committee and the Federal Security Service "to find out in detail" what happened.
Putin indicated that the attack on the Crimean Bridge has no sense from a military point of view, saying, "This crime is senseless, from a military point of view, has no significance, since the Crimean Bridge has not been used for military transportation for a long time."
Elsewhere, Putin pointed out that "the main thing" is that bridge’s supports were not damaged as a result of the attack.
Earlier, anonymous sources told AFP that Ukraine's domestic security agency and navy were behind Monday's attack that targeted the Crimean Bridge.
Suspilne and Ukrainska Pravda, both Ukrainian state broadcasters, also provided little specifics about an operation they alleged involved the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) and the navy, although Suspilne reported its sources as stating the bridge was struck using underwater drones.
Maria Zakharova, the Russian Foreign Ministry's spokesperson, said that the "Kiev terrorist regime is behind the attack on the Crimean Bridge," adding that the "decision to attack the Crimean Bridge was made by Ukrainian officials, military with the participation of US, UK special services."
![In a 2021 interview with Frontline by former US special representative James Jeffrey, he says he had "engaged with [HTS] via backchannels while serving in President Trump’s State Department. (Al Mayadeen English; Illustrated by Batoul Chamas)](https://alpha-en-media.almayadeen.net/media/image/2024/12/21/b4a69f2e-8682-43e4-9d37-49482b304ab3/3.png?v=2&format=webp "In a 2021 interview with Frontline by former US special representative James Jeffrey, he says he had \"engaged with [HTS] via backchannels while serving in President Trump’s State Department. (Al Mayadeen English; Illustrated by Batoul Chamas)")
