He’s within the driver’s seat — not less than in the case of this bridge.
Russian President Vladimir Putin drove a Mercedes-Benz on the not too long ago repaired span linking Russia to Crimea Monday, a part of a publicity stunt that was broadcast on Russian state TV.
Putin drove alongside the 12-mile Kerch Strait bridge — which was torn aside by an explosion almost two months in the past — whereas chatting with Deputy Prime Minister Marat Khusnullin within the passenger seat.
“We're driving on the right-hand facet,” Putin stated whereas driving. “The left facet of the bridge, as I perceive it, is in working situation, however nonetheless it must be accomplished. It nonetheless suffered a bit, we have to deliver it to a super state.”
The bridge connects Russia to the Crimean peninsula, which the Kremlin annexed in 2014. It was closely broken in October by a large detonation for which Kyiv has not taken credit score.
Pictures Monday additionally confirmed Putin strolling the bridge, with scorched sections of the construction seen behind him.
The bridge carries each automobile and rail site visitors, and is a significant provide line for Russian forces in Crimea — which Ukraine has vowed to retake.
The bridge was lauded as a flagship industrial challenge by Putin after it opened in 2018. On the Russian chief christened the bridge by driving the primary truck over it.
Russia has publicly blamed Ukraine’s army intelligence companies for the assault on the bridge, and the Kremlin’s subsequent near-daily bombardment of Ukraine’s energy infrastructure started quickly afterwards.
Putin’s look on the bridge is the closest the chief has publicly gotten to the conflict he began in February, when he ordered his military to invade Ukraine.
With Publish wires
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