President Putin Warns Crimea Bridge Attack Won't Be Allowed, Allies Advise Tough Stance

Attack on the Crimea Bridge. (Screenshot of Euronews YouTube channel)

JAKARTA - Russian President Vladimir Putin said his government would not allow the attack on the Crimean bridge, while his allies said a firm stance needed to be taken against the perpetrators of the attack, which it described as a terrorist act.

In response to the attack on the Kyiv bridge, President Putin said the Ministry of Defense was preparing a suitable response.

"Of course, Russia's response will follow. The defense ministry is working on a plan accordingly," he told a government meeting, citing TASS, July 18.

At the end of a televised online meeting with national and regional officials about the Crimea Bridge attack, President Putin called it a cruel and senseless act, as the bridge "has not been used for military transportation for a long time," as quoted by Reuters.

Separately, Deputy Chairman of Russia's Security Council Dmitry Medvedev who is also a close ally of President Putin, urged his country to use force, as well as targeted and 'far from humane' measures against terrorists, after the latest attack on the Crimean Bridge.

"Global track record and our own experience shows there is no point in using international sanctions, or issuing warnings against terrorists. They only understand the language of violence. Only targeted and highly inhumane measures (must be taken)," Medvedev wrote on the channel. Its Telegram.

Therefore, continued Medvedev, "their own homes and the homes of their relatives must be blown up" calling for efforts "to find and destroy their accomplices."

He dismissed the notion that putting the perpetrators on trial was boring.

"Removing the supreme commander of the terrorist units is key," he said, describing the mission as "difficult but possible."

Russian authorities say a husband and wife were killed while their 14-year-old child was injured in the attack on the Crimean Bridge.

Kyiv did not officially claim responsibility, but Ukrainian media said Ukrainian security services had deployed maritime drones to the bridge.

The attacks were similar to those in October, which Ukraine implicitly claims, rendering highway and rail bridges temporarily out of action.