Russia’s leadership claimed that its desired strategic land bridge connecting the Crimean Peninsula to the Donbass region in Ukraine has been achieved.
The Russian military said Tuesday that roads and railways between western Russia and Crimea are now complete, according to state-run media.
“Conditions have been created for the resumption of full-fledged traffic between Russia, Donbass, Ukraine, and Crimea on six railway sections,” Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu said in a statement. “Automobile communication has been opened from the territory of Russia along the mainland to Crimea.”
Shoigu also stated that the ports of Berdyansk and Mariupol, the latter city destroyed after a 3-month Russian siege, had resumed their operations….