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Vladimir Putin is to chair a meeting of his top brass on Monday (October 10) following the destruction of the Kerch Bridge linking the Russian mainland to Crimea.
Shocking footage was circulated worldwide of the bridge ablaze in a blow to Putin's forces.
Now there are concerns Putin is preparing to up the stakes with the threat of a nuclear strike as he called the attack a "terrorist act" by Ukrainian special services.
READ NEXT: Putin to take 'revenge' for Crimea bridge blast as expert warns war 'might go nuclear'
"There is no doubt. This is an act of terrorism aimed at destroying critically important civilian infrastructure," Putin said in a video on the Kremlin's Telegram channel.
"This was devised, carried out and ordered by the Ukrainian special services."
Kremlin official Dmitry Peskov confirmed Putin with the permanent members of Russia's Security Council.
The Council is made up of the most powerful people in Russia such as the head of the infamous FSB and heads of defence and security agencies.
Former head of the British army General Lord Richard Dannatt has warned Russia may now begin upping indiscriminate shelling of Ukrainian civilian areas or even the once unthinkable step of Putin "going nuclear".
The collapse of the bridge is thought to have resulted in the deaths of three people and infuriated Putin with the bridge a key supply line for Russian troops.
Putin has previously warned in chilling terms that any attack on the Kerch Strait would result in what he described as "judgment day".
The Kerch Bridge, the longest in Europe, was built in 2018 and cost £2.7bn. It was opened with a grand patriotic ceremony.
As tensions continue to rise, the US has spent almost $300 million (£270 million) on drugs used to treat radiation sickness with US President Joe Biden claiming the world has not been as close to nuclear conflict since the Cuban missile crisis in 1962.
Despite this, a spokesperson for the Human Services Department (HSS) in Washington, The Daily Telegraph that the buying of radiation poisoning treatments was unrelated to recent developments
"This is part of our ongoing work for preparedness and radiological security. It has not been accelerated by the situation in Ukraine," the department said in a statement.
READ MORE:
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- Vladimir Putin
- Russia
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