Sunday, Russian President Vladimir Putin accused Ukraine of committing a "terrorist act" in the explosion that damaged a major bridge connecting Crimea to Russia the day before.

According to media accounts, during a meeting with the director of Russia's Investigative Committee, Alexander Bastrykin, Vladimir Putin stated, "There is no doubt it was a terrorist act aimed at destroying vitally important civilian infrastructure of the Russian Federation."

Putin stated, "This was conceived, executed, and ordered by the Ukrainian special services."

The fact that Ukraine has not claimed responsibility for the explosion that destroyed the Kerch Bridge is an embarrassment for Putin. However, Ukrainian officials praised the explosion on social media, which has become a significant morale booster for Ukraine's military operation.

Putin met with Bastrykin to discuss the results of an inquiry into the massive explosion and fire on the 19-kilometer Crimean bridge, which he inaugurated with much ceremony in 2018 after Russia annexed the peninsula from Ukraine in 2014. Sunday morning, Russian divers began analyzing the bridge to identify the origin of the explosion.

Bastrykin stated that a criminal investigation had been initiated into the bridge attack.

Putin increased security for the bridge and energy infrastructure between Russia and Crimea after the explosion on Saturday. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov told Russian official news agency TASS on Sunday that he has scheduled a meeting of his national security council for Monday.

In a tweet, Ukrainian presidential aide Mikhailo Podolyak described Putin's accusation as "even cynical for Russia."

He stated, "Putin accuses Ukraine of terrorism?" "It has been less than 24 hours since Russian aircraft fired 12 rockets into a residential area of Zaporizhzhia, killing 13 and injuring over 50. "No, there is only one state terrorist, and the entire world is aware of his identity," Podolyak stated.

The destruction of the Kerch Bridge, a significant symbol of Putin's claim over the Crimean peninsula, endangered a vital supply line for Russian forces in southern Ukraine. As Ukrainian advances continue to recover occupied territory from Moscow's military, this development occurred.