The vehicular portion of the Kerch Bridge, which connects Russia to the Crimean peninsula illegally annexed in 2014, was reopened to traffic on Thursday, Russia’s deputy prime minister announced, a day before the one-year anniversary of the start of the Russian offensive. against the neighboring country, reports AFP. The Putin Bridge was destroyed last fall by an explosion attributed to Ukraine. The work was completed 39 days ahead of schedule, which was a “great gift”.

The explosion of a trap truck in early October on this bridge, which symbolizes for the Kremlin its power and annexation of the Ukrainian peninsula of Crimea, was a humiliation for Russia, even if the Ukrainian authorities have always denied that they attacked the viaduct.

“The automobile part of the Crimean bridge has been completely reconstructed,” Russian Vice Prime Minister Marat Khusnulin expressed his satisfaction in Telegram.

He claimed workers worked around the clock to complete the job in four and a half months, completing the facility “39 days ahead of schedule”, which he said was a “great gift” as Russia celebrates Defender of the Fatherland Day on Thursday .

However, the railway portion of the viaduct is still under construction and is not expected to reopen until the summer.

The explosion on the Crimean bridge, which killed three people, caused a shock in Russia: the fact that such an important infrastructure, moreover, far from the front, could be damaged, was a heavy blow for Moscow.

This concrete bridge, built at great expense by order of Russian President Vladimir Putin to connect the annexed peninsula with Russian territory, also serves to transport military equipment for the Russian army fighting in Ukraine. (Source Agerpres)

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