Russia-Crimea bridge to be opened by Vladimir Putin

Russia-Crimea bridge to be opened by Vladimir Putin

The controversial Crimean Bridge has been finished six months early and will link Russia's southern Krasnodar region with the Crimean city of Kerch. The massive bridge will help reduce Crimea's reliance on sea transport.

Russian President Vladimir Putin was due to open a 19-kilometer bridge connecting southern Russia to the Crimean peninsula on Tuesday.

The controversial Crimean Bridge links the southern Krasnodar region with the Crimean city of Kerch and spans across a stretch of water between the Black Sea and the Azov Sea.
The project cost 228 billion rubles ($3.69 billion, €3.1 billion) and will become the longest bridge in Europe, taking over the Vasco da Gama Bridge in Lisbon, Portugal.



It had been expected to be fully constructed by the end of 2018 but has been completed six months ahead of schedule and will be open to traffic on May 16, according to a Kremlin statement.

Ukraine condemns bridge

Ukraine has criticized the project, saying construction has damaged the environment and that larger ships will be unable to get through to its ports on the Azov Sea.

Crimea was annexed from Ukrainefollowing the 2014 Ukrainian revolution and takeover of the area by pro-Russian separatists and armed forces.