Putin opens huge Russia-Crimea rail bridge hailed as longest in Europe

Vladimir Putin on Monday inaugurated an enormous railway bridge linking mainland Russia to Crimea, the Ukrainian peninsula that he annexed in 2014.

The Russian president stood within the cab of a practice for the opening of the 19-kilometre (11.9-mile) bridge, which is the longest in Europe.

The challenge is meant to bolster hyperlinks between Russia and Crimea by rising the transport of cargo and inspiring the move of vacationers.

Putin congratulated building employees on finishing the bridge, saying that "it has confirmed our means to hold out large-scale infrastructure tasks."

He mentioned that 14 million passengers and about 13 million tons of cargo are anticipated to maneuver throughout the bridge subsequent yr.

Whereas passenger visitors throughout the bridge will start instantly, cargo trains won't start till subsequent July.

Russia annexed Crimea in March 2014 after residents of the peninsula voted in a Russia-led referendum to affix up with Russia.

The transfer prompted widespread worldwide censure, together with U.S. and EU sanctions on Russia.

Ukraine has additionally blocked cargo of provides through its territory to Crimea, and a ferry crossing from Russian Black Sea ports is commonly interrupted by gales.

A parallel bridge for vehicles throughout the Kerch Strait between the Black Sea and the Sea of Azov opened in Could 2018.