Putin orders the Federal Security Service to guard the Crimean bridge

Russian President Vladimir Putin issued a decree ordering the Federal Security Service to tighten control over the Crimean bridge, which was damaged by a massive explosion earlier on Saturday.

“The Federal Security Service will be given powers to organize and coordinate protective measures for the transport route through the Kerch Strait, the bridge of the electricity network of the Russian Federation to Crimea and the gas pipeline from the Krasnodar region of Crimea,” the decree reads.

This is the first measure taken by the Kremlin after the explosion, which appears to have been caused by an attack on the bridge built by Moscow after its annexation of Crimea.

Responsibility for the bridge's security has been divided between three parties so far, according to Russian parliamentarian Alexander Chinstein.

The Ministry of Defense monitored the airspace, the National Guard in Rosjavardia took over maritime control, and the Ministry of Transport monitored motorways and railways.

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