The bridge linking Russia and Crime ends, Putin makes official opening

Russia's President Vladimir Putin will make the official opening of the 19km bridge linking southern Russia to the Crimean Peninsula.

The project had cost 228 billion rubles (3, 69 billion dollars, 3, 1 billion euros) and will be Europe's longest bridge, which has so far kept the most long bridge in Europe the Lisbon in Portugal, Vasco da Gama.

It is expected to be fully built by the end of 2018, but has completed six months before schedule and will be open for traffic on 16 May, according to a Kremlin statement, “reports. DW” Transmission Periscope.

Ukraine has criticised this project, saying such construction would harm the environment and that larger ships would not be able to cross its ports in the Azov Sea.

The results of a referendum considered unconstitutional by the Ukrainian Constitutional Court for Reunification with Russia found that most people were in favour of joining Russia.

The outbreak of the peninsula in 2014 was condemned by Kiev and the West.

Sanctions of the European Union and the United States towards Russia have targeted, especially businessman Arkdy Rotenberg, a close ally of Putin, whose company had acquired the right to construction.

The blockades imposed by Kiev and Western sanctions have meant that a large amount of food will be transported from Russia to shipwork, i.e. The bridge will play an important role in reducing regional support in shipping./Periscopi/

Inspection of Creative Bridge combined parthttps://t.co/wCmo2DMWSM Pic.twitter. com/0H2 Rfuk BJX

Vladimir Putin (@Putin R Eng) March 15, 2018