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Russian President Putin has publicly blamed Ukraine for the explosion that took place on an important bridge connecting Russia and Crimea , saying that the weekend's attack was a "terrorist act" carried out by "Ukrainian secret agencies." British media fanned the flames and said: At present, the outside world is increasingly predicting that the Kremlin will plan to escalate the war immediately and severely.
Putin said in a video posted on the Telegram channel of the Kremlin on Sunday evening, about the explosion on Saturday, "This is undoubtedly a terrorist act aimed at destroying vital civil infrastructure, an order planned, implemented and issued by the Ukrainian special forces."
Putin made the above speech after meeting with Alexander Bastrykin, chairman of the Russian Commission of Inquiry, who is submitting the results of an investigation into the explosion and fire of the bridge. Bastrakin said he had filed a criminal lawsuit against "acts of terrorism", adding that "we have determined the route of the truck" including through Bulgaria , Georgia , Armenia , North Ossetia, Krasnodar (a region in southern Russia) and elsewhere.
Outside analysis said that his words laid the foundation for Moscow's expected reaction, and Putin will convene his National Security Council to discuss the bombing on Monday. Because the explosion of Kerch Strait Bridge is a key supply line for Moscow's army in southern Ukraine. This bridge is also a major artery in the port of Sevastopol where the Russian Black Sea Fleet is stationed. Ukrainian officials expressed joy in the explosion, but no one claimed responsibility for the explosion.
Western media said the attack was a shameful blow to Putin's prestige, as Putin personally opened the road section of the 12-mile-long bridge in 2018, supporting the $4 billion project. At that time, Putin also drove a truck across the Kerch Bridge as a symbol of Moscow's resumption of sovereignty claims over Crimea. The bridge is Europe's longest bridge and is crucial to maintaining Russian military operations in southern Ukraine. Moreover, this bridge is regarded as a symbol of Russian ambition by Ukrainian .
It is worth noting that the day after Putin's remarks came, the day after the attacks occurred in Russia, and hours later, hardliner general Sergei surrovkin was promoted to the first commander-in-chief of the Russian army in Ukraine, after the public raised increasing criticism of Moscow's increasing military failure in recent weeks.
In addition, Russian Federal Security Agency (FSB) said on Sunday that Ukraine's artillery fire on its territory "significantly increased." The Russian Federation Security Bureau (FSB), which is responsible for border security, said, "The number of attacks launched by Ukrainian armed formations in Russian border territory has increased significantly since early October," said the remarks amounted to an ominous sign, which Western media said "indicates that Moscow may be planning to escalate the conflict with Ukraine," after hardliners unanimously demanded retaliation. Meanwhile, during the nine-month war, Russia's nuclear marginal policy has become increasingly tough, which is the background for Russia's comments.
At the same time, the Washington-based War Institute pointed out that, as Russia tried to downplay the importance of bridge attacks, some nationalist bloggers began to rarely criticize Putin for failing to deal with the bridge attacks well. Russian independent political analyst Abbas Garyamov said the Russian president's response was not strong enough to satisfy the angry war hawks.
Now, Putin has escalated his remarks and characterized the explosion as a terrorist attack carried out by Ukraine. There may be retaliation next.
