Putin: The explosion on the bridge in Crimea was a terrorist act planned by the Ukrainian special services

Russian President Vladimir Putin said today that the explosion on the key bridge connecting Crimea and the Russian mainland was a terrorist act planned by Ukrainian special services, reports Reuters.

"There is 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 designed, implemented and ordered by the Ukrainian special services," said the Russian president.

Putin met with Alexander Bastrykin, head of Russia's Investigative Committee, who presented the findings of an investigation into Saturday's explosion and fire at the bridge.

In a powerful explosion yesterday, the Russian road-railway bridge to Crimea was damaged, a prestigious symbol of the annexation of the peninsula and a key supply route for Russian forces fighting to keep the occupied territory in the south of Ukraine.