Russia says it struck targets in Ukraine in response to Crimea bridge attack

By Elena Teslova

MOSCOW (AA) - Russia said Tuesday it struck targets in Ukraine in response to the attack on a bridge in Crimea for which Moscow holds Kyiv responsible.

"Tonight, the armed forces of the Russian Federation inflicted a group retaliation strike with high-precision sea-based weapons on objects where terrorist acts against the Russian Federation were being plotted," Defense Ministry spokesman Igor Konashenkov said in a statement.

He said Ukraine was plotting attacks using unmanned boats, but Russia struck down their manufacturing plant near the city of Odesa.

The spokesman added that fuel storage facilities of the Ukrainian army were destroyed in the cities of Mykolaiv and Odesa.

At least two people were killed and a child was severely injured in a blast early Monday at the Kerch Bridge, which connects Russia to the Crimean Peninsula that has been under control of Moscow since 2014.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has accused Ukraine of being behind the attack.