Ukraine war: Putin inspects Crimea bridge hit by blast; Kyiv warns of more blackouts after Russia hits power grid
- Putin drove a car to occupied Crimea across a flagship bridge seriously damaged in an explosion that Russia blamed on an act of ‘terrorism’ by Ukraine
- About half the region around the Ukrainian capital will remain without electricity for the coming days after missile strikes on power facilities, the regional governor said
Russian President Vladimir Putin has driven to occupied Crimea across a flagship bridge seriously damaged in an explosion.
“We’re driving across the right side” of the bridge, Putin told Deputy Prime Minister Marat Khusnullin seated beside him in the Mercedes car, in footage broadcast on state TV. “The left side as far as I understand is in working condition, but it needs to be fully restored.”
At one point, Putin pulled up to the location where the October 8 blast took place and got out of the car to discuss repairs to the road and rail span across the Kerch Strait, which he ordered built after annexing Crimea in 2014.
The Kremlin blamed an act of “terrorism” by Ukraine for the explosion that ignited a fuel train and caused the partial collapse of the road bridge into the sea.
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Putin says Ukraine behind Crimea bridge blast, calling it ‘act of terrorism’
Ukrainian officials did not claim responsibility for the attack on the bridge, which was being used to help supply Russia’s invasion forces in southern Ukraine. But the country’s postal service quickly announced a new stamp noting the blast.
