Putin promises retaliation following fatal attack on Crimea bridge

President Vladimir Putin on Monday vowed to retaliate after a Ukrainian attack on a bridge linking Moscow-annexed Crimea to Russia killed two civilians and left their child wounded.

ALSO READ: WATCH: BRICS summit to be ‘physical’ amid Putin warrant [VIDEO]

“Another terrorist attack was committed on the bridge last night,” Putin said in televised remarks.

“Of course, there will be a response from Russia. The defence ministry is preparing relevant proposals,” he added.

“From a military point of view, this is a senseless crime,” Putin added.

ALSO READ: Russia’s war: Putin endangers his country with Ukraine war, source

He said the bridge had not been used for military transportation “for a long time” and called for tougher security measures.

READ MORE: Lebanon central bank governor’s properties seized

PUTIN

“I am waiting for specific proposals to improve the security of this strategic, important transport facility.”

Russian officials said that a Ukrainian attack on the Moscow-built bridge killed a civilian couple and wounded their child.

Moscow said two drones had hit the bridge in the early hours of Monday and blamed “the Kyiv regime.”

ALSO READ: Russian President Putin commends troops for preventing civil war

Commercial flights to Moscow-annexed Crimea have been suspended after the start of the offensive in Ukraine, and most Russian tourists usually drive to Crimea over the bridge.

The Ukrainian navy and SBU security service carried out an overnight attack on the Russian-built bridge, a Ukrainian source told AFP.

Russian Deputy Prime Minister Marat Khusnullin told Putin that the bridge’s supporting structures were intact.

ALSO READ: Putin accuses Ukraine and Western allies of inciting fratricide

The bridge was already partially destroyed in a truck bomb attack in October 2022, blamed by Moscow on Ukraine but denied by Kyiv.