Crimean Bridge

"Kerch Strait Bridge" and "Kerch Bridge" redirect here. For the 1944–1945 bridge, see Kerch railway bridge.
For the bridge in Moscow, see Krymsky Bridge.

Crimean Bridge
The Crimean Bridge in 2019
Coordinates45°18′31″N 36°30′22″E / 45.3086°N 36.5061°E / 45.3086; 36.5061
Carries
CrossesKerch Strait: (Kerch–Yenikale Canal, Tuzla Island, Tuzla Spit remains)
LocaleKerch, Crimea and Taman, Russia
Official nameКрымский мост
OwnerGovernment of Russia[1]
Characteristics
DesignDouble parallel railroad-road box girder bridge with a truss arch span
Total length
  • Railroad bridge: 18.1 km (11+1⁄4 mi)
  • Road bridge: 16.9 km (10+1⁄2 mi)
Water depthUp to 9 m (30 ft)[2]
Longest span227 metres (745 ft)[3]
Clearance below35 metres (115 ft)[4]
No. of lanes4
Rail characteristics
No. of tracks2
Track gaugeRussian gauge
History
DesignerInstitute Giprostroymost – Saint Petersburg[5]
Constructed byStroygazmontazh
Construction startFebruary 2016[a]
Construction end
  • April 2018 (road bridge)
  • December 2019 (rail bridge)
Construction cost₽227.92 billion (US$3.7 billion)[6]
Opened
  • 2018 (2018) (road bridge)[b]
  • 2019 (2019)–2020 (2020) (rail bridge)[c]
Inaugurated
  • 15 May 2018 (road bridge)
  • 23 December 2019 (rail bridge)
Replaces
Statistics
Daily traffic15,000 cars[9]
TollNone[10]
Map

The Crimean Bridge (Russian: Крымский мост, romanized: Krymskiy most, IPA: [ˈkrɨmskʲij most]; Ukrainian: Кримський міст, romanized: Krymskyi mist), also called Kerch Strait Bridge or Kerch Bridge, is a pair of parallel bridges, one for a four-lane road and one for a double-track railway, spanning the Kerch Strait between the Taman Peninsula of Krasnodar Krai in Russia and the Kerch Peninsula of Crimea. Built by the Russian Federation after its annexation of Crimea at the start of 2014, the bridge cost ₽227.92 billion (US$3.7 billion)[11] and has a length of 19 km (12 mi),[d] making it the longest bridge in Europe[13][14][15] and the longest bridge ever constructed by Russia.[16][e]

In January 2015 the multibillion-dollar construction contract for the bridge was awarded to Arkady Rotenberg's Stroygazmontazh. Construction began in February 2016.[a] The road bridge was inaugurated by Russian President Vladimir Putin on 15 May 2018. It opened for cars on 16 May and for trucks on 1 October.[7][17] The rail bridge was inaugurated on 23 December 2019 and the first scheduled passenger train crossed the bridge two days later. The bridge was opened for freight trains on 30 June 2020. A record amount of traffic, totalling 36,393 cars, was recorded on 15 August 2020.[18]

The bridge was named the Crimean Bridge after an online vote in December 2017, whilst Kerch Bridge and Reunification Bridge were the second and third most popular choices respectively.[19]

During the Russian invasion of Ukraine, the bridge was attacked on multiple occasions. On 8 October 2022, an explosion occurred on the roadway leading from Russia to Crimea, causing parts of the road bridge to collapse and starting a large fire on the rail bridge. On 23 February 2023, the Russian government announced that the road bridge had been fully reopened to traffic, and on 5 May it announced that the rail bridge had been fully reopened. On 17 July 2023, another explosion occurred adjacent to the road bridge, causing a section to collapse, Ukraine claimed both attacks. On 12 August 2023, the bridge was the target of another attack. The bridge was fully reopened on 14 October.

History

Pre-annexation proposals and attempts

Kerch railway bridge

Main article: Kerch railway bridge

Proposals to build a bridge across the Kerch Strait had been considered since the early 20th century.

During World War II the German Organisation Todt built a ropeway over the strait. Finished in June 1943, it had daily capacity of 1,000 tonnes. Construction of a combined road and railway bridge started in April 1943, but before it was finished, retreating German troops blew up the completed parts of the bridge and destroyed the ropeway.[20][21]

In late 1944–early 1945, the Soviet Union constructed a 4.5-kilometre (2+3⁄4 mi) railway bridge across the strait. This bridge, not designed as permanent, was marred by design and construction errors, and was destroyed by flowing ice in February 1945.[22] A proposal to repair it was quickly dismissed and the remnants of the bridge were dismantled, with permanent bridge designs envisaged instead.

Soviet proposals

In 1949 the Soviet government ordered the construction of a 5.969-kilometre (3 mi 1,248 yd) two-tier combined road-rail bridge (two road lanes on the upper tier and two rail tracks on the lower tier) with 40 m clearance below, connecting Yeni-Kale with Chushka Spit, but in 1950 construction was halted and a ferry line was set up instead.[21]

A different version of the fixed link, the Kerch waterworks project («Керченский гидроузел») was developed from the mid-1960s, proposing a system of dams and bridges across the strait. The project was not implemented due to a lack of funding[23] and the later collapse of the Soviet Union.[24][25]

Negotiations between the Ukrainian and Russian governments

Although the idea of an international bridge linking Ukraine and Russia survived the 1991 dissolution of the Soviet Union, the two countries failed to finalise the project.[26] Former Moscow mayor Yury Luzhkov was a vocal advocate for a highway bridge across the strait, expressing hope that it would bring the Crimean people closer to Russia, both economically and symbolically.[26] Similar hopes were expressed by pro-Russian authorities in Crimea, who hoped that the bridge would contribute to either a "revival of the Silk Road" or to a multinational road along the Black Sea coast.[23][f]

Construction of the bridge was reconsidered by the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine in 2006, and the Transport Minister of Ukraine Mykola Rudkovsky stated that he expected the bridge to be a "net positive for Crimea" as it would allow "every tourist visiting Russian Caucasus to visit Crimea as well".[28][29] The issue was discussed by prime ministers of both countries in 2008,[30] and a Transport Strategy of Russia, adopted in that year, envisaged the construction of the Kerch Strait bridge as a high priority issue for the development of the Southern Federal District's transport infrastructure in the period 2016–2030, with the design ready by 2015.[31]

[toggle view]
Possible alignments of the proposed bridge as of 2002.[32]
  ("Tuzla" or "Southern") ultimately became the basis for the Crimean Bridge built by Russia
  (Cape Fonar – Cape Maly Kut, also known as "Northern route") was preliminarily preferred by the Ukrainian government in 2011.

In 2010, Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych and Russian President Dmitry Medvedev signed the Kharkiv Pact, an agreement to build a bridge across the Kerch Strait,[33] and Russia and Ukraine signed a memorandum of understanding on the construction of the bridge on 26 November 2010.[34] A 2011 study by the Ukrainian government announced preliminary preference for a route between Cape Fonar and Cape Maly Kut. Had that project been carried out, it would have meant construction of a 10.92 km (6 mi 1,382 yd) bridge link, with 49 km (30+1⁄2 mi) of adjacent roads and 24 km (15 mi) of adjacent railroads.[35]

The shelving of the Ukraine–European Union Association Agreement in November 2013 led to increased interest in the construction of a bridge between Crimea and the Taman Peninsula of Russia,[36] and an agreement on the construction of that bridge was signed as a part of the 17 December 2013 Ukrainian–Russian action plan. In late January 2014, the Ukrainian and Russian governments decided that a new joint Ukrainian–Russian company would be commissioned to handle the construction of the bridge, while the Russian state enterprise Russian Highways (commonly known as Avtodor) would become responsible for the bridge in the long term.[36]

It was decided a special working group would determine the location and set the technical parameters.[36] The Ministry of Economic Development and Trade of Ukraine estimated that construction would take five years and cost between US$1.5 and $3 billion.[36] In early February 2014, Avtodor was instructed by the First Deputy Prime Minister of Russia to work on a feasibility study to be published in 2015.[36]

In the following months, as relations between Ukraine and Russia deteriorated, bilateral negotiations over the bridge collapsed,[37] yet Russia claimed that it expected the December 2013 deals to be honoured, and on 3 March prime minister Dmitry Medvedev signed a governmental decree to create a subsidiary of Avtodor to oversee the project.[38] A contest for the engineering survey of the bridge project was announced by that subsidiary on 18 March,[39] but by that time the premise of the contest, which still referred to 2013 agreements,[40] was already outdated. In April 2014, following the Russian annexation of Crimea the Ukrainian government gave Russia six months' notice of its withdrawal from the now-defunct bilateral Kerch Bridge agreement.[41]

After 2014 annexation and start of construction

See also: Russo-Ukrainian War and Political status of Crimea
The logo of the Crimean bridge
Aerial views of the Crimean Bridge in 2021.

Following the Russian annexation of Crimea in March 2014 amid a sharp deterioration in Ukrainian-Russian relations, Russia declared it would unilaterally build the Kerch Strait bridge to connect the Russian mainland with the annexed Ukrainian peninsula. The project was strategic, an instrumental part of Russian plans to integrate the newly annexed territory into Russia.[42] The project aimed to shift Crimean dependence on Ukraine and reduce Kyiv's leverage,[43] remove Moscow's reliance upon inadequate sea and air links for supplying the peninsula,[44][14] and allow Russia to independently supply Crimea, whose economy has become dependent upon significant subsidies from Moscow. The bridge has a symbolic purpose: it is meant to show Russia's resolve to hold Crimea,[42] and as a "physical" attachment of Crimea to Russian territory.

The announcement that Russia would build a road-rail bridge over the strait was made by the Russian President Vladimir Putin on 19 March 2014,[45][46] just one day after Russia formally claimed Crimea. In January 2015, the contract for construction of the bridge was awarded to the SGM Group, whose owner Arkady Rotenberg (reportedly a close personal friend of Putin) was internationally sanctioned in response to the Russian military's involvement in Ukraine. SGM typically constructed pipelines and had no experience building bridges, according to BBC News.[47]

The construction of the Kerch Bridge took place without Ukraine's consent.[41] The Ukrainian government has actively condemned Russian construction of the bridge[48] as illegal[49] because Ukraine, "as a coastal state with regard to the Crimean Peninsula", did not give its consent to such construction,[50] and called on Russia to demolish "those parts of that structure located within temporarily occupied Ukrainian territory".[51] Sanctions were introduced by the United States and the European Union against companies involved in the construction.[52][53]

Since December 2018 the United Nations General Assembly has repeatedly condemned the construction and opening of the bridge as "facilitating the further militarization of Crimea"[54][55] and "restricting the size of ships that can reach the Ukrainian ports on the Azov coast".[56] Russia, on the other hand, asserted that it "shall not ask for anybody's permission to build transport infrastructure for the sake of the population of Russian regions".[57]

Attacks during the Russian invasion of Ukraine

Further information: Russian invasion of Ukraine

Following the Russian invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, Ukraine planned and called for the "destruction" of the bridge,[58][59] bringing criticism and talks of guaranteed protection of the bridge from Dmitry Peskov, the Kremlin Press Secretary.[60]

During the invasion there were two large explosions, in October 2022 and July 2023, on the bridge. According to the BBC a source in Ukraine's security service said that the 2023 explosion was caused by a Ukrainian attack with unmanned surface vessels (aquatic drones). Russia attributed the attacks to "Ukrainian terrorism". A Ukrainian defence official also said that Ukraine had carried out the October 2022 attack; the BBC was unable to verify the claims independently.[61]

In a speech to the Aspen Security Forum in July 2023, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy called the bridge a legitimate military target for Ukraine that must be "neutralized" for "feeding the war with ammunition" and "militarizing the Crimean Peninsula."[62]

October 2022 explosion

Main article: 2022 Crimean Bridge explosion

On 8 October 2022 a major explosion occurred on the bridge, causing portions of the Crimea-bound road segment to collapse and causing several oil tanker wagons on the rail section to catch fire. Vladimir Konstantinov, Chairman of the State Council of Crimea, attributed the explosion to a Ukrainian attack.[63] Limited traffic resumed on the remaining lines shortly afterwards.[64][65] Russian authorities ordered repairs to be complete by July 2023.[66]

On 6 January 2023, TASS reported that the first two spans of the left side of the Crimean Bridge's automobile part leading from the peninsula would be installed that month, with two more to be installed in February, the Federal Road Agency (Rosavtodor) said in a message.[67]

The road bridge was fully opened again to traffic on 23 February 2023 according to an announcement from Russian Deputy Prime Minister Marat Khusnullin.[68] On 5 May the deputy prime minister also announced that the rail bridge had been fully reopened.[69]

July 2023 explosion

Main article: 2023 Crimean Bridge explosion

In the early morning of 17 July 2023 two explosions hit the Crimean Bridge. At least one section of the road bridge collapsed entirely,[70] and rail services were stopped. Two people, a couple who were in a car on the bridge, were killed, and their child injured.[71] The bridge was struck twice before 03:00 according to reports on social media;[72][73] Ukrainian and Russian sources indicated that the explosion was caused by a Ukrainian attack with unmanned surface vessels (aquatic drones).[61] The bridge was fully reopened on 14 October.[74]

August 2023 attack

On 12 August, Russia's Defence Ministry said that Ukraine tried to strike the bridge with three S-200 missiles but were unsuccessful due to interception by air defences. Footage released online appeared to show the bridge covered in smoke.[75][76] The bridge was temporarily closed, then both road and rail traffic resumed at a limited level.[76][77]

Design

Crimean Bridge on a 2018 Russian postage stamp
Crimean Bridge on a 2019 5-ruble coin
The bridge in April 2018, with Tuzla Island at centre

After the annexation, Russian officials looked at various options for connecting Crimea to the Russian mainland, including a tunnel, but eventually settled on a bridge.[42]

The bridge spans the Strait of Kerch between the Taman Peninsula of Krasnodar Krai and the Kerch Peninsula of Crimea.[g]

The Russian government's draft resolution of 1 September 2014 required the bridge to have four lanes of vehicle traffic and a double-track railway.

An official video from October 2015 contained a CGI concept of the bridge design, annotated with various measurements. It showed a four-lane, flat deck highway bridge running parallel with the separate two-track railway. The main span over the Kerch Strait shipping channel would have a steel arch support, 227 m (745 ft) wide with a 35 m (115 ft) clearance above the water to allow ships to pass under. There would be three segments: from the Taman Peninsula to Tuzla Spit is 7 km (4 mi); across Tuzla Island is 6.5 km (4 mi); and from Tuzla Island to the Crimean Peninsula is 5.5 km (3+1⁄2 mi) (19 km or 12 mi total).

The final concept was a major change from the initial project considered in late 2014, which had envisaged construction of two bridge links (parallel road and rail bridges between the Taman Peninsula and the Tuzla Spit and a double deck road-rail bridge between Tuzla Island and the Kerch Peninsula) and a causeway on Tuzla Spit.[81] This design was scrapped, the causeway being deemed too risky to rely on given the instability of the Tuzla Spit.[82]

The official reason for abandonment of a double deck bridge in favor of two continuous parallel structures was that the latter solution allows for less massive spans and for simultaneous construction of both bridges (rather than having to construct one level of bridge first before starting the second one), an important consideration given demands by the Russian government that road and rail links be operational quickly.[83] The "Tuzla route" was preferred over shorter variants (starting at Chushka Spit), in particular because doing otherwise would have interfered with the still operational ferry line,[84] to the effect of worsening transport communications between Russia and Crimea.[85]

The bridge was built by Stroygazmontazh Ltd (SGM), which had never before built a major bridge. Because of the risk of sanctions, no international insurance company was willing to underwrite the potential $3 billion loss. It was insured instead by a small Crimean company.[86]

The geology of the Kerch Strait is difficult: it has a tectonic fault, and the bedrock is covered by a 60 m (197 ft) layer of silt.[86] About 70 mud volcanoes have been found in the area of the strait.[86] More than 7,000 piles support the bridges; these piles have been driven up to 90 m (300 ft) beneath the water surface.[86] Some of the piles are at an angle to make the structure more stable during earthquakes.[86] Some experts expressed doubts that the construction was safe, given the tectonic and sea current conditions in the strait.[86][87]

Construction

Putin leading the first convoy across the bridge, 2018

Preliminary work on the bridge began in May 2015. More than 200 bombs[88] and a few aeroplanes (including an Ilyushin Il-2[89] and a Curtiss P-40 Kittyhawk)[90] from the World War II era were found in the area during pre-construction clearance. Three temporary bridges were built to facilitate access (independent of weather and currents) for main construction.[91] By October 2015, the first of the temporary bridges had been constructed, connecting Tuzla Island and Taman Peninsula.[92]

Main construction started in February 2016.[93] The first piles were installed in early 2016,[94] and in April 2016 the first pillar of the road bridge was constructed.[95] The foundations of the road bridge were completed in August 2017.[96] The two shipping channel arches (over the Kerch–Yenikale Canal) were lifted into position in August and October that year.[97]

In October 2017, National Guard of Russia Director Viktor Zolotov announced the formation of a new "maritime brigade", intended to protect the bridge as part of Russia's Southern Military District.[98] In December 2017 all road pillars and spans were completed,[99][100] by April 2018 asphalt concrete was laid onto the road bridge,[101] and after some examination the road bridge was deemed ready for operation.[102]

The first train travels along the new Crimean bridge railway, 2019.

On 15 May 2018, the road bridge was officially unveiled. President Vladimir Putin led a convoy of trucks, driving one himself, across the bridge in an inauguration ceremony.[103] The bridge was opened for non-truck vehicle traffic on 16 May 2018[7] and for trucks on 1 October.[8]

The construction of the rail bridge continued. In June 2018 pile installation was finished,[104] and in July 2018 deployment of the rail tracks started.[105]

In October 2018, the Russian Taman Road Administration reported that as one of the railway spans was being lowered into place, it tilted and fell into the sea. This occurred in the sea section between Tuzla Spit and Tuzla Island.[106] In November 2018 the installation of the railway pillars was completed.[107]

On 24 March 2019 the bridge's press centre reported completion of construction of railway spans,[108] and on 18 July it reported completion of the bridge's rail tracks.[109] In October 2019, the opening for freight trains was postponed until 2020, the official cause was a delay in the construction of the connecting railroad caused by the discovery of an ancient site on the Kerch Peninsula.[110][111] Sale of train tickets across the Kerch Strait started in November 2019.[112] On 18 December 2019 the rail bridge was deemed ready for operation,[113][114] and President Putin formally opened the bridge on 23 December.[115] The first scheduled passenger train crossed the bridge on 25 December 2019,[116] while the bridge was opened for freight trains on 30 June 2020.[117]

The rail bridge design provides the ability to install an overhead railway electrification system "whenever such decision will be made", requiring no rebuilding of the bridge's structures. Pending electrification, the rail bridge is served by diesel locomotives.[118]

  • Construction of supports and installation of the first spans of the railway bridge from the side of Kerch. At the same time, the construction site is backfilled and the assembly of the bridge arches begins.
    Construction of supports and installation of the first spans of the railway bridge from the side of Kerch. At the same time, the construction site is backfilled and the assembly of the bridge arches begins.
  • Construction of the bridge pillars
    Construction of the bridge pillars
  • Asphalting the finished section of the road bridge from the side of Taman. On the opposite side, construction work is underway to connect the temporary ramp with the bridge.
    Asphalting the finished section of the road bridge from the side of Taman. On the opposite side, construction work is underway to connect the temporary ramp with the bridge.
  • Concrete casting and asphalting of the overpass spans on Tuzla Island
    Concrete casting and asphalting of the overpass spans on Tuzla Island
  • Completing the assembly of arches on the slipway and preparing them for transportation and installation on fairway supports
    Completing the assembly of arches on the slipway and preparing them for transportation and installation on fairway supports
  • The installation of the railway arch in August 2017
    The installation of the railway arch in August 2017
  • The installed arches of the bridge and the process of sliding the spans of the road bridge to the arch
    The installed arches of the bridge and the process of sliding the spans of the road bridge to the arch
  • The road bridge on 15 May 2018. The rail bridge – under construction at the time – is visible on the left.
    The road bridge on 15 May 2018. The rail bridge – under construction at the time – is visible on the left.

Operation and impact

On Crimea and Russia

President Putin at the opening ceremony of the road section of the bridge, 15 May 2018

The road bridge, opened in 2018, quickly overtook the Kerch Strait ferry as a preferred route of communication between Crimea and Russia. In its first 12 hours of operation the bridge broke the traffic record of the ferry, which had been established in August 2017.[119] After the bridge was opened for trucks in October 2018, truck transportation via the ferry virtually ceased.[120] After the first full year of operation (May 2018 – May 2019) the road bridge had served three times more traffic than the Kerch Strait ferry had served in the whole of 2017.[121]

Since the road bridge is free of charge, in contrast to the ferry, it is claimed that users of the bridge saved more than 16 billion rubles.[122] The bridge is said to have contributed to an increase of the number of tourists visiting the Crimea,[123] with bridge traffic peaking in the summer months – on 5 August 2018 the bridge broke a single-day record for car traffic, with 32,000 vehicles crossing the span,[124] followed by over 33,000 vehicles on 12 August that year[125] and over 35,000 a year later.[126] The long roadway with few diversions occasionally becomes congested, with long traffic queues.[127]

A fall in the price of retail goods in Crimea, which was expected to occur after the opening of the road bridge, did not happen. According to the local Russian administration, this situation persists because large retail groups are not operating in Crimea due to either risk of being sanctioned or because they deem Crimea a "logistic dead end",[123] although there were expectations that the opening of the rail bridge would eventually contribute to a decrease in price of certain goods.[128]

On Ukraine

The Kerch Strait incident over the passage between the Black and Azov seas

The Russian bridge crossed the sole access point for ships travelling to and from Ukraine's eastern port cities, including Mariupol and Berdiansk through which Ukraine exported steel and agricultural products.[129] Following completion of the bridge various restrictions were imposed on Ukrainian shipping which affect their operating costs, which Ukraine and others alleged was part of a creeping hybrid blockade of Ukrainian ports in the Azov Sea.[130][131][132]

These restrictions, including Russian inspections of ships, had risen sharply since the bridge opened in May 2018, some being forced to wait for three days before being allowed through.[130][131] Additionally, due to the height limits of the main span of the bridge (33 to 35 metres (108 to 115 ft) above sea level) the Ukrainian maritime authority said many ships are too big to pass safely under the bridge.[131][133] The bulk carrier Copan (deadweight tonnage 17,777 tons) solved this problem by cutting off the top of her mast.[133] On 26 October 2018, The Globe and Mail, citing Ukrainian sources, reported that the bridge had reduced Ukrainian shipping from its Sea of Azov ports by about 25%.[129]

In November 2018, the area near the bridge became the site of the Kerch Strait incident, in which the Russian navy claimed that three Ukrainian vessels entered Russian territorial waters. Russian forces seized the vessels and arrested their crews. During this time, passage through the Strait was blocked by a large cargo ship, placed under the bridge to prevent passage of other craft.[134][135] In response, Ukraine declared martial law in some regions of the country for 30 days.[134]

Archaeology

Part of a large Greek terracotta statue was found at the Crimean Bridge construction site, during underwater digging near the Ak-Burun Cape. According to archaeologists, this is a unique finding, since it is the first of its kind found in the northern Black Sea area.[136]

  • The Crimean Bridge at night
    The Crimean Bridge at night
  • Traffic on the Crimean Bridge, view in direction of Kerch
    Traffic on the Crimean Bridge, view in direction of Kerch
  • Train crossing the Crimean Bridge
    Train crossing the Crimean Bridge
  • The Crimean Bridge in May 2020. The infrastructure of the Port of Taman is visible in the background.
    The Crimean Bridge in May 2020. The infrastructure of the Port of Taman is visible in the background.
  • A ship passing under the Crimean Bridge
    A ship passing under the Crimean Bridge
  • Aerial view of the Crimean Bridge
    Aerial view of the Crimean Bridge

Explanatory notes

  1. ^ a b Preliminary work started in May 2015, and the main construction (of the link itself) started in February 2016. See further.
  2. ^ Opened on 16 May 2018 for non-truck traffic[7] and on 1 October for goods vehicles[8]
  3. ^ Opened on 25 December 2019 for passenger traffic and on 30 June 2020 for freight trains
  4. ^ Entire fixed link, including small causeways at the ends. The bridges themselves are 18.1 km (11+1⁄4 mi) (rail) and about 17 km (10+1⁄2 mi) (road) long.[12]
  5. ^ It is also often considered to be the longest bridge in Russia,[14] but this applies only to de facto Russian territory, including Crimea, since most of the bridge is in the (Autonomous) Republic of Crimea. The Taman–Tuzla Spit part, in undisputed Russian territory, is only 4.5 kilometres (2+3⁄4 mi) long,[12] shorter than the President Bridge in Ulyanovsk Oblast (5.825 km or 3 mi 1,090 yd).
  6. ^ After the 2014 annexation of Crimea, Russia continued to support the inclusion of the peninsula into that proposed road, claiming that such an option would be economically more feasible, but Ukraine, previously supportive of the project, now stridently opposed it.[27]
  7. ^ Russian-annexed,[78][79] mostly internationally recognised as part of Ukraine.[42][80]

References

  1. ^ "О проекте". Archived from the original on 7 August 2020. Retrieved 17 May 2018.
  2. ^ "Началось возведение свайных фундаментов Керченского моста". 10 March 2016. Archived from the original on 13 September 2017. Retrieved 16 May 2018.
  3. ^ "Проектировщик моста в Крым – РБК: 'Мы нашли оптимальное решение'". РБК. 30 June 2015. Archived from the original on 28 September 2015. Retrieved 16 May 2018.
  4. ^ "О проекте". Archived from the original on 7 August 2020. Retrieved 17 May 2018.
  5. ^ "Проектировщиком моста в Крым стал петербургский 'Гипростроймост'" (in Russian). 6 April 2015. Archived from the original on 19 March 2020. Retrieved 7 December 2019.
  6. ^ "Строительство моста через Керченский пролив. Съемка с коптера". РИА Новости Крым. 22 May 2017. Archived from the original on 20 December 2019. Retrieved 17 May 2018.
  7. ^ a b c "Автодорожная часть Крымского моста открылась для движения автомобилей". ТАСС (in Russian). Archived from the original on 16 April 2019. Retrieved 16 May 2018.
  8. ^ a b "Крыму начало везти". Коммерсантъ. Archived from the original on 24 October 2020. Retrieved 17 October 2019. Крымский мост 1 октября стал доступен для движения грузового транспорта.
  9. ^ "Названа средняя загрузка Крымского моста: 15 тысяч машин в сутки". 6 November 2019. Archived from the original on 27 September 2020. Retrieved 18 December 2019.
  10. ^ "Сколько будет стоить проезд по Крымскому мосту? КерчьИНФО – новости Керчи". 12 May 2018. Archived from the original on 19 December 2019. Retrieved 17 May 2018.
  11. ^ "Controversial Russia-Crimea bridge opens". BBC News. 15 May 2018. Archived from the original on 22 September 2022. Retrieved 8 October 2022.
  12. ^ a b "Завершено сооружение пролетов Крымского моста под автодорогу". РИА Новости Крым (in Russian). 20 December 2017. Archived from the original on 24 December 2019. Retrieved 27 May 2019.
  13. ^ Hodge, Nathan. "Russia's bridge to Crimea: A metaphor for the Putin era". CNN. Archived from the original on 10 August 2022. Retrieved 17 May 2018.
  14. ^ a b c "Bridge connects Crimea to Russia, and Putin to a Tsarist dream". South China Morning Post. Archived from the original on 3 June 2022. Retrieved 17 May 2018.
  15. ^ "Putin inaugurates bridge by driving a truck across to seized peninsula Crimea". ABC News. 15 May 2018. Archived from the original on 16 June 2022. Retrieved 17 May 2018.
  16. ^ "Russia pushes back 'Putin's bridge' to annexed Crimea by a year". Reuters. 13 April 2016. Archived from the original on 28 November 2019. Retrieved 28 November 2019.
  17. ^ Крымский мост открыли для проезда грузовиков: фото и видео [Crimean Bridge has been opened for truck traffic: photo and video]. 24.ua (in Russian). October 2018. Archived from the original on 9 February 2020. Retrieved 27 May 2019.
  18. ^ "На Крымском мосту установили новый рекорд автотрафика". TASS. Archived from the original on 2 October 2022. Retrieved 18 August 2020.
  19. ^ "Голосование за название строящегося в Керченском проливе моста завершено". Interfax.ru (in Russian). 17 December 2017. Archived from the original on 20 December 2019. Retrieved 17 May 2018.
  20. ^ Inside the Third Reich by Albert Speer, Chapter 19, p. 270 (1969, English translation 1970)
  21. ^ a b "Предисловие | Мост через Керченский пролив". kerch.rusarchives.ru. Archived from the original on 17 June 2019. Retrieved 5 December 2019.
  22. ^ Bologov, Petr (27 February 2017). "The bridge-long dream". intersectionproject.eu. Archived from the original on 29 June 2017. Retrieved 1 July 2017.
  23. ^ a b "Макропроект в Крыму". kommersant.ru (in Russian). 22 October 1994. Archived from the original on 13 September 2021. Retrieved 7 December 2019.
  24. ^ Проект для моря. Vokrug sveta (in Russian). 1 December 1972. Archived from the original on 1 August 2019. Retrieved 19 February 2016.
  25. ^ На стыке двух морей (33–36 pages). Tekhnika Molodezhi (in Russian). January 1985. Archived from the original on 21 July 2019. Retrieved 19 February 2016.
  26. ^ a b Лужков присоединяет Крым к России. Kommersant (in Russian). 8 April 1999. Archived from the original on 8 October 2022. Retrieved 25 April 2009.
  27. ^ "Черноморское кольцо уперлось в Украину" (in Russian). Archived from the original on 16 June 2022. Retrieved 10 December 2019.
  28. ^ "Кабмин рассматривает возможность соединения Украины с Россией". Украинская правда (in Russian). Archived from the original on 3 September 2022. Retrieved 7 December 2019.
  29. ^ "Между Керчью и Россией построят мост". podrobnosti. 17 November 2006. Archived from the original on 27 March 2019. Retrieved 7 December 2019.
  30. ^ "Россия и Украина договорились строить мост через Керченский пролив". Lenta.ru. Archived from the original on 5 December 2020. Retrieved 7 December 2019.
  31. ^ "2008 Transport Strategy of the Russian Federation". rzd.ru (in Russian). Archived from the original on 7 December 2019. Retrieved 7 December 2019.
  32. ^ "Мост через Керченский пролив". pantikapei. 28 February 2011. Archived from the original on 22 September 2020. Retrieved 27 March 2012.
  33. ^ Azarov creates group for bridging the Kerch Strait Archived 23 November 2010 at the Wayback Machine, Kyiv Post (9 August 2010)
  34. ^ Russia, Ukraine to construct bridge across Kerch Strait Archived 6 February 2011 at the Wayback Machine, Kyiv Post (26 November 2010)
  35. ^ "Украина выбрала северный вариант моста через Керченский пролив". Kavkaz Uzel. Archived from the original on 7 December 2019. Retrieved 7 December 2019.
  36. ^ a b c d e «Автодор» приступает к подготовке проекта моста через Керченский пролив Читайте далее Archived 19 December 2014 at the Wayback Machine Vedomosti (14 February 2014)
  37. ^ Глава Минтранса: Россия приостановила переговоры с Украиной по проекту Керченского моста [Head of the [Russian] Ministry of Transport: Russia ceased negotiations with Ukraine regarding the Kerch Strait Bridge project]. TASS. 28 February 2014. Archived from the original on 12 June 2018. Retrieved 28 November 2019.
  38. ^ Medvedev Signs Decree Creating Contractor for Kerch Strait Bridge Project Archived 18 September 2020 at the Wayback Machine The Moscow Times (3 March 2014)
  39. ^ "Объявлен конкурс на инженерные изыскания по строительству Керченского моста". ТАСС. Archived from the original on 9 December 2019. Retrieved 7 December 2019.
  40. ^ "Request on proposals on the engineering design of the Kerch Strait Bridge, Contest Documentation, page 20". zakupki.gov.ru. Retrieved 7 December 2019.[permanent dead link]
  41. ^ a b "Ukraine withdraws from Kerch Strait bridge project with Russia". ITAR–TASS. 1 October 2014. Archived from the original on 30 November 2014. Retrieved 1 October 2014.
  42. ^ a b c d Walker, Shaun (31 August 2017). "Russia's bridge link with Crimea moves nearer to completion". Archived from the original on 14 September 2021. Retrieved 19 September 2018.
  43. ^ David M. Herszenhorn (19 March 2014). "Dependence on Russia Is Likely to Leave Region's Economy in a Precarious State". The New York Times. Archived from the original on 14 September 2021. Retrieved 26 July 2018. The process is also fraught with risks, including the possibility that the Ukrainian government could move to further isolate the geographically remote peninsula by shutting vital transportation lines. There is no overland transportation link between Russia and Crimea, and building a bridge across the shortest waterway, near the Crimean city of Kerch, would take years and cost an estimated $3 billion to $5 billion
  44. ^ Roth, Andrew (15 May 2018). "Putin opens 12-mile bridge between Crimea and Russian mainland". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 22 September 2022. Retrieved 26 July 2018. The 12-mile (19km), $3.7bn (£2.7bn) bridge is Moscow's only direct road link to Crimea. Russia expects it will carry millions of cars and rail travellers and millions of tons of cargo each year. Previously, all car traffic passed over the Kerch strait by ferry or by passing through Ukraine
  45. ^ "Russia to Build Bridge to Crimea". RIA Novosti. 19 March 2014. Archived from the original on 25 October 2014. Retrieved 22 March 2014.
  46. ^ "Kerch Strait bridge to be built ahead of schedule – deputy minister". ITAR–TASS. 19 March 2014. Archived from the original on 30 March 2014. Retrieved 22 March 2014.
  47. ^ "Ukraine conflict: Putin ally to build bridge to Crimea". BBC News. 30 January 2015. Archived from the original on 14 September 2021. Retrieved 30 January 2015.
  48. ^ "Crimea: Who controls its territorial waters?". BBC. 27 November 2018. Archived from the original on 19 December 2018. Retrieved 28 November 2019.
  49. ^ "Statement of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine on the unlawful launch of the Kerch Strait bridge by the Russian Federation". undocs.org. Archived from the original on 20 December 2019. Retrieved 8 October 2022.
  50. ^ Киев считает противоправным введение РФ запрета на судоходство через Керченский пролив [Kyiv deems Russian restrictions on shipping in the Kerch Strait illegal] (in Russian). Interfax-Ukraine. Archived from the original on 14 September 2021. Retrieved 28 November 2019.
  51. ^ "Statement by the delegation of Ukraine at the 28th meeting of States Parties to the UNCLOS". Permanent Mission of Ukraine to the United Nations. 12 June 2018. Archived from the original on 14 September 2021. Retrieved 28 November 2019.
  52. ^ "U.S. imposes sanctions on 'Putin's bridge' to Crimea". Reuters. 2 September 2016. Archived from the original on 14 September 2021. Retrieved 28 November 2019.
  53. ^ "Ukraine: EU adds six entities involved in the construction of the Kerch Bridge connecting the illegally annexed Crimea to Russia to sanctions list". Archived from the original on 1 September 2022. Retrieved 28 November 2019.
  54. ^ "United Nations General Assembly Resolution 73/194 "Problem of the militarization of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea and the city of Sevastopol, Ukraine, as well as parts of the Black Sea and the Sea of Azov"". United Nations Documents. 23 January 2019. Archived from the original on 1 March 2022. Retrieved 28 November 2019.
  55. ^ "General Assembly Adopts Resolution Urging Russian Federation to Withdraw Its Armed Forces from Crimea, Expressing Grave Concern about Rising Military Presence". United Nations. Meetings Coverage and Press Releases. 17 December 2018. Archived from the original on 24 April 2019. Retrieved 28 November 2019.
  56. ^ "United Nations General Assembly Resolution 74/17 "Problem of the militarization of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea and the city of Sevastopol, Ukraine, as well as parts of the Black Sea and the Sea of Azov"". United Nations Documents. 13 December 2019. Archived from the original on 8 August 2020. Retrieved 18 December 2019.
  57. ^ "Russia Defends Opening of Crimea Bridge Against U.S. Criticism". Moscow Times. 16 May 2018. Archived from the original on 14 September 2021. Retrieved 28 November 2019.
  58. ^ Hambling, David (6 May 2022). "Ukraine Threatens Russia's Vital Bridge To Crimea". Forbes. Archived from the original on 20 June 2022. Retrieved 20 June 2022.
  59. ^ "Ukrainians threaten to destroy Russian bridge to Crimea 'target number one'". South China Morning Post. 17 June 2022. Archived from the original on 21 July 2022. Retrieved 20 June 2022.
  60. ^ "Ukrainian intelligence says it obtained detailed specs of Crimean Bridge linking peninsula with Russia". The Kyiv Independent. 16 June 2022. Archived from the original on 8 October 2022. Retrieved 20 June 2022.
  61. ^ a b Radford, Antoinette; Cooney, Christy (17 July 2023). "Ukraine war: Two dead after 'attack' on Crimea bridge". BBC News.
  62. ^ Amran, Rachel (22 July 2023). "Zelensky: The Crimean Bridge must be neutralized". The Kyiv Independent. Retrieved 22 July 2023.
  63. ^ Bachega, Hugo; Jackson, Patrick (10 October 2022). "Crimea bridge partly reopens after huge explosion – Russia". BBC News. Archived from the original on 8 October 2022. Retrieved 10 October 2022.
  64. ^ Ritchie, Hannah; Lister, Tim; Pennington, Josh (8 October 2022). "Massive blast cripples parts of Crimea-Russia bridge, in blow to Putin's war effort". CNN. Archived from the original on 8 October 2022. Retrieved 8 October 2022.
  65. ^ Adams, Paul (8 October 2022). "Crimean bridge: Excitement and fear in Ukraine after bridge blast". BBC News. Archived from the original on 8 October 2022. Retrieved 8 October 2022.
  66. ^ "Crimea bridge: Russia 'to repair blast damage by July 2023'". BBC News. 14 October 2022. Retrieved 14 October 2022.
  67. ^ "First two spans of Crimean Bridge's automobile road to be installed in January". TASS. Retrieved 5 March 2023.
  68. ^ AFP (23 February 2023). "Russia Fully Reopens Crimea Bridge to Cars on Eve of Anniversary". Moscow Times. Retrieved 6 April 2023.
  69. ^ "Crimean Bridge fully reopens to railway traffic following last year's explosion". Meduza. Retrieved 5 June 2023.
  70. ^ "Traffic stopped on Crimean Bridge due to 'emergency' - Russian-backed governor". Reuters. 17 July 2023. Retrieved 17 July 2023.
  71. ^ "Crimea bridge attack: What happened, why is the bridge important?". Al Jazeera. 17 July 2023.
  72. ^ "Crimea bridge closes amid reports of 'emergency'". The New Daily. 17 July 2023. Retrieved 17 July 2023.
  73. ^ "Train services stopped on Kerch Bridge". Ukrinform. 17 July 2023. Retrieved 17 July 2023.
  74. ^ "На Крымском мосту открыто движение автомобилей по всем четырем полосам". Коммерсантъ (in Russian). 14 October 2023. Retrieved 14 October 2023.
  75. ^ "Ukraine fires missiles at Kerch Bridge connecting Crimea to Russia". The Guardian. 12 August 2023. Retrieved 12 August 2023.
  76. ^ a b "Russia says it thwarts Ukrainian attacks on Crimean Bridge". Reuters. 12 August 2023.
  77. ^ "Crimean bridge operating in limited mode". Yahoo News. 17 August 2023. Retrieved 20 August 2023.
  78. ^ Roth, Andrew (15 May 2018). "Putin opens 12-mile bridge between Crimea and Russian mainland". Archived from the original on 14 September 2021. Retrieved 19 September 2018.
  79. ^ Stolyarov, Gleb. "Trucker Putin opens Russia bridge link with annexed Crimea". U.S. Archived from the original on 21 September 2018. Retrieved 19 September 2018.
  80. ^ Hodge, Nathan. "Russia's bridge to Crimea: A metaphor for the Putin era". CNN. Archived from the original on 13 August 2022. Retrieved 19 September 2018. The United States and most other countries have refused to recognize the annexation of Crimea, and sanctions on Russia don't seem likely to be lifted anytime soon.
  81. ^ Обоснование проекта Керченского моста будет готово к декабрю [Feasibility study of the Kerch Bridge project will be ready by December]. Rossiyskaya Gazeta. 8 November 2014. Archived from the original on 14 September 2021. Retrieved 29 November 2019.
  82. ^ "…И распахнутся в Крым ворота". transportrussia.ru. Archived from the original on 28 October 2018. Retrieved 29 November 2019.
  83. ^ Kolyushev, Igor (August 2018). Технические особенности проектирования Крымского моста [Technical aspects of the designing of the Crimean Bridge] (PDF). Дороги. Инновации в строительстве (in Russian). Archived (PDF) from the original on 25 July 2021. Retrieved 29 November 2019.
  84. ^ "Мост через Керченский пролив можно построить только в двух местах". РБК. 19 May 2014. Archived from the original on 12 June 2018. Retrieved 29 November 2019.
  85. ^ "Это, по сути, половина дела". Коммерсантъ. Archived from the original on 14 September 2021. Retrieved 29 November 2019.
  86. ^ a b c d e f Pollock, Emily (6 July 2018), Europe's Longest Bridge Spans Troubled Waters, Engineering.com, retrieved 18 July 2023
  87. ^ Coynash, Halya (10 January 2017), Russia's Crimea Bridge Could Collapse Anytime, Atlantic Council, retrieved 18 July 2023
  88. ^ "200 бомб найдено в районе строительства моста через Керченский пролив". tvzvezda.ru. July 2015. Archived from the original on 20 January 2020. Retrieved 13 December 2017.
  89. ^ "Поисковики нашли Ил-2 с останками пилота при строительстве Керченского моста". tvzvezda.ru. 7 September 2015. Archived from the original on 26 December 2019. Retrieved 26 December 2019.
  90. ^ "Kittyhawk подняли со дна". gazeta.ru. Archived from the original on 26 December 2019. Retrieved 26 December 2019.
  91. ^ "Три временных моста построят для доставки материалов на строительство Керченского перехода". Tass.ru. Archived from the original on 22 January 2020. Retrieved 13 December 2017.
  92. ^ Гнатенко, Артём (1 October 2015). "Завершено строительство первого рабочего моста в Керченском проливе". Kuban.kp.ru -. Archived from the original on 28 January 2020. Retrieved 13 December 2017.
  93. ^ Минтранс: строительство железнодорожной части Крымского моста идет по графику [Ministry of Transportation: construction of the rail part of the Crimean Bridge is taking place according to schedule]. ТАСС. Archived from the original on 11 January 2020. Retrieved 28 November 2019.
  94. ^ Первые сваи: началось устройство фундаментов Керченского моста [First pile: construction of the [deep] foundations of the Kerch Bridge started]. RBK. 10 March 2016. Archived from the original on 23 December 2019. Retrieved 28 November 2019.
  95. ^ Построена первая опора Керченского моста [First pillar of the Kerch Bridge has been completed]. Interfax.ru (in Russian). Archived from the original on 31 January 2020. Retrieved 28 November 2019.
  96. ^ Строители погрузили все сваи в основание автодорожной части моста в Крым [All piles are installed into the foundations of the road part of the bridge to Crimea]. RIA Novosti Crimea (in Russian). 16 August 2017. Archived from the original on 23 December 2019. Retrieved 28 November 2019.
  97. ^ Urcosta, Ridvan Bari (23 February 2018). "The Kerch Strait Bridge and Russia's A2/AD Zone around Crimean peninsula". The Ukrainian Weekly. Archived from the original on 10 July 2022. Retrieved 20 June 2022. The ongoing construction of the road-and-rail bridge reached a symbolic high point last year, when central arches were lifted into position in August and October, forcing the temporary closure of the narrow maritime channel to ship traffic...
  98. ^ "Russia's National Guard to form maritime brigade". TASS. 25 October 2017. Archived from the original on 3 April 2022. Retrieved 26 August 2017.
  99. ^ Завершено возведение всех опор автодорожной части моста через Керченский пролив [All pillars of the road part of the Kerch Strait Bridge are built] (in Russian). Interfax. 4 December 2017. Archived from the original on 27 November 2018. Retrieved 28 November 2019.
  100. ^ "Expert points to vulnerability of Kerch bridge from military perspective". unian.info. Archived from the original on 25 December 2019. Retrieved 28 November 2019. As UNIAN reported, on December 20, the occupiers completed the next stage of the Crimean bridge construction – assembling the span structures of the road section, having fully formed the bridge's sheet from Russia's Taman coast to the occupied Kerch.
  101. ^ Асфальт уложили на автодорожной части моста через Керченский пролив [Road part of the Kerch Strait Bridge has been covered with asphalt]. Interfax-Russia.ru (in Russian). 26 April 2018. Archived from the original on 23 December 2019. Retrieved 28 November 2019.
  102. ^ "Автодорожная часть моста через Керченский пролив прошла приемочные обследования". Interfax-Russia.ru (in Russian). 26 April 2018. Archived from the original on 12 June 2018. Retrieved 28 November 2019.
  103. ^ "Putin drives truck over new controversial bridge linking Russia to Crimea peninsula". CBC News. 15 May 2018. Archived from the original on 20 June 2022. Retrieved 20 June 2022.
  104. ^ Строители установили последнюю сваю железнодорожной части моста в Крым [Final pile of the rail part of the bridge to Crimea has been installed] (in Russian). RIA Novosti. 4 June 2018. Archived from the original on 19 June 2022. Retrieved 28 November 2019.
  105. ^ На Крымском мосту уложили первые рельсы [First tracks have been laid onto the Crimean Bridge]. Rossiyskaya Gazeta (in Russian). 25 July 2018. Archived from the original on 25 July 2018. Retrieved 28 November 2019.
  106. ^ Section of Crimean Bridge falls into sea, 5 October 2018, archived from the original on 19 June 2022, retrieved 12 October 2018 – via UAWire
    "Фрагмент пролета строящейся ж/д части Крымского моста съехал в воду" [Part of the span of the unfinished railway part of the Crimean bridge slid into the water], RIA Press, 4 October 2018, archived from the original on 28 November 2018, retrieved 1 December 2018
    Фрагмент пролета железнодорожной части Крымского моста съехал в воду при монтаже [Part of the span of the railway part of the Crimean bridge slid down into the water during installation], archived from the original on 4 October 2018, retrieved 1 December 2018 – via TASS
    "Ротенберг рассказал об инциденте на железнодорожной части Крымского моста" [Rotenberg told about the incident on the railway part of the Crimean bridge], RBC, 4 October 2018, archived from the original on 4 October 2018, retrieved 1 December 2018
    "Многотонный пролет Крымского моста съехал в море: причины и последствия" [A span of the multi-span the Crimean bridge slid into the sea: causes and consequences], Kryminform, 4 October 2018, archived from the original on 8 August 2019, retrieved 1 December 2018
    "Строители подняли съехавший в воду пролет Крымского моста" [Builders raise the span of the Crimean bridge that fell into the water]. Interfax.ru (in Russian). 24 October 2018. Archived from the original on 24 October 2018. Retrieved 24 October 2018.
  107. ^ Строители завершили возведение опор железнодорожной части Крымского моста [Construction of the pillars of the railway part of the Crimean Bridge has been completed]. RBK. 12 November 2018. Archived from the original on 22 December 2019. Retrieved 28 November 2019.
  108. ^ "Строители собрали все пролеты железнодорожной части Крымского моста". ТАСС. Archived from the original on 13 September 2021. Retrieved 15 June 2019.
  109. ^ "Строители завершили укладку рельсов на Крымском мосту" (in Russian). 18 July 2019. Archived from the original on 13 September 2021. Retrieved 20 July 2019.
  110. ^ ""Рано или поздно моста не станет": почему в России опасаются пускать грузовые поезда в Крым" ["Sooner or later there will be no bridge": why in Russia they are afraid to let freight trains into Crimea]. Krym Realii (in Russian). 13 October 2019. Archived from the original on 18 October 2019. Retrieved 13 October 2019.
  111. ^ Минтранс отложил открытие движения грузовых поездов по Крымскому мосту [Ministry of Transportation [of Russia] delayed opening of the Crimean Bridge for freight trains] (in Russian). 7 October 2019. Archived from the original on 25 December 2019. Retrieved 15 October 2019.
  112. ^ "Russia Launches Direct Crimea Train Ticket Sales". Moscow Times. 8 November 2019. Archived from the original on 13 September 2021. Retrieved 28 November 2019.
  113. ^ "Строительство железнодорожной части Крымского моста официально завершено". Российская газета (in Russian). 18 December 2019. Archived from the original on 10 January 2020. Retrieved 18 December 2019.
  114. ^ "Строительство железнодорожной части Крымского моста закончено". РИА Новости (in Russian). 18 December 2019. Archived from the original on 6 January 2020. Retrieved 18 December 2019.
  115. ^ Putin takes first train across Crimea bridge Archived 13 September 2021 at the Wayback Machine, AFP, 23 December 2019.
  116. ^ Первый поезд проехал по Крымскому мосту [The first train drove along the Crimean Bridge]. Kommersant (in Russian). 25 December 2019. Archived from the original on 25 December 2019. Retrieved 25 December 2019.
  117. ^ По Крымскому мосту запустили железнодорожное грузовое движение [Railway freight traffic launched on the Crimean Bridge]. Kommersant (in Russian). 30 June 2020. Archived from the original on 13 September 2021. Retrieved 30 June 2020.
  118. ^ "Железная дорога Крымского моста построена с расчетом на дальнейшую электрификацию". ТАСС. Archived from the original on 14 September 2021. Retrieved 29 November 2019.
  119. ^ "Крымский мост за полдня работы побил абсолютный рекорд переправы". Interfax.ru (in Russian). Archived from the original on 20 May 2018. Retrieved 29 November 2019.
  120. ^ "Фуры ушли на мост: что ждет Керченскую паромную переправу". РИА Новости Крым (in Russian). 1 October 2018. Archived from the original on 19 April 2021. Retrieved 29 November 2019.
  121. ^ "Почти пять миллионов машин уже пересекли Крымский мост". Газета.Ru (in Russian). Archived from the original on 26 May 2019. Retrieved 29 November 2019.
  122. ^ "5 млн транспортных средств пересекли Крымский мост за год работы". Interfax-Russia.ru (in Russian). 15 May 2019. Archived from the original on 24 June 2019. Retrieved 29 November 2019.
  123. ^ a b "Что изменилось в Крыму с открытием моста". Российская газета (in Russian). 15 January 2019. Archived from the original on 6 May 2022. Retrieved 29 November 2019.
  124. ^ "Вторые выходные подряд: Крымский мост побил новый рекорд суточного трафика" (in Russian). RIA Novosti. 13 August 2018. Archived from the original on 19 March 2022. Retrieved 18 June 2022.
  125. ^ "Крымский мост установил новый суточный рекорд трафика: больше 33 тыс. машин". Interfax-Russia.ru (in Russian). 13 August 2018. Archived from the original on 25 December 2019. Retrieved 29 November 2019.
  126. ^ "На Крымском мосту зафиксировали рекордный трафик". РБК. 13 August 2019. Archived from the original on 19 June 2022. Retrieved 29 November 2019.
  127. ^ "Fact Check-Image of traffic jam on Crimean bridge is nearly a month old; it does not show Russians fleeing the peninsula in August 2022". Reuters. 11 August 2022. Archived from the original on 11 August 2022. the image used in the posts was taken as early as July 16, 2022
  128. ^ "Аксенов: пуск железнодорожной части Крымского моста снизит цены в регионе на ряд товаров". ТАСС. Archived from the original on 8 October 2022. Retrieved 29 November 2019.
  129. ^ a b Lourie, Richard (26 October 2018), "Putin's bridge over troubled waters", The Globe and Mail, archived from the original on 19 January 2019, retrieved 30 October 2018
  130. ^ a b Choursina, Kateryna (25 July 2018), Ukraine Complains Russia Is Using New Crimea Bridge to Disrupt Shipping, Bloomberg L.P., archived from the original on 2 April 2019, retrieved 21 September 2018
  131. ^ a b c Marex (30 August 2018), The U.S. Accuses Russia of Harassing Ukrainian Shipping, The Maritime Executive, archived from the original on 6 May 2022, retrieved 21 September 2018
  132. ^ "Russia's Strategy in the Sea of Azov: The Kerch Bridge, Artificial Shipping Delays and Continued Harm to Ukraine". 14 January 2021. Archived from the original on 7 May 2022. Retrieved 8 October 2022.
  133. ^ a b Klimenko, Andrey (18 September 2018), Bulk carrier had to cut off mast to pass under illegal Kerch Strait Bridge, The Maritime Executive, archived from the original on 23 January 2019, retrieved 21 September 2018
  134. ^ a b "Ukraine–Russia clash: MPs back martial law". BBC News. 27 November 2018. Archived from the original on 20 June 2022. Retrieved 27 November 2018.
  135. ^ "Ukraine accuses Russia of firing on its ships near Crimea", The Irish Times, 25 November 2018, archived from the original on 8 November 2020, retrieved 6 October 2019
  136. ^ Ancient Greek artifact unearthed at Crimean bridge construction site, 22 March 2017, archived from the original on 20 June 2022, retrieved 22 March 2017 – via TASS

Further reading

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Crimean Bridge.
Wikinews has related news:
Records
Preceded by Europe's longest bridge
2018–present 		Succeeded by
Incumbent
Preceded by
South overpass of the
Western High-Speed Diameter
 Russia's longest bridge
2018–present1
Preceded by Europe's longest railway bridge
2019–present
Preceded by Russia's longest railway bridge
2019–present
Notes and references
1. Longest bridge built by Russia, but whether longest in Russia depends on one's stance in the Crimean dispute.