Close view of the traffic and the repair work on the Crimea Bridge over the Kerch Strait, in Kerch, Crimea October 12, 2022. (Reuters)
Moscow Times/AFP: Russia Fully Reopens Crimea Bridge to Cars on Eve of Anniversary
Moscow on Thursday announced the full reopening to road traffic of the controversial Crimea Bridge, which has been closed and under repair since it was badly damaged in an explosion in October.
The announcement came on the eve of the first anniversary of the Russian offensive in Ukraine, with both Moscow and Kyiv keen to control the narrative and project images of victory.
Moscow has always blamed Kyiv for the attack on the bridge, which links the Moscow-annexed Crimean peninsula to mainland Russia and is known to be a prestige project for Russian President Vladimir Putin personally. Kyiv has always denied its involvement in the attack, however.
"All lanes of the Crimean bridge are fully open to car traffic 39 days ahead of schedule," Russian Deputy Prime Minister Marat Khusnullin said, according to his press service.
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Update #1: Crimean Bridge repairs completed after terrorist attack – official (RT)
Update #2: Russia 'fully Opens' Crimea Bridge '39 Days Ahead Of Schedule' On Eve Of War Anniversary (Republic World)
WNU Editor: Russia used the attack on the Crimea Bridge to justify its attacks on Ukraine's electrical grid. Attacks that are continuing .... The Impact of Russian Missile Strikes on Ukraine’s Power Grid (New Yorker).