Concerned About Health Rumors... Putin Drives Mercedes Himself to Visit Crimean Bridge

After Getting Out of the Car, Checking the Surroundings
"Must Be Restored Quickly for Normal Operation"

Russian President Vladimir Putin personally drove a Mercedes-Benz to visit the Crimean Bridge site. On this day, President Putin walked along part of the bridge and looked around the surroundings. Photo by Yonhap News

[Asia Economy Reporter Bora Lee] Russian President Vladimir Putin personally drove a Mercedes-Benz to visit the restoration site of the Crimean Bridge, where an explosion occurred last October.

Foreign media, including the US AP News Agency, reported on the 5th (local time), citing Russian state TV, that President Putin drove a Mercedes-Benz himself on the Crimean Bridge and got out of the car to observe the restoration progress.

The Crimean Bridge is the only land route directly connecting the Crimean Peninsula, annexed by Russia in 2014, to mainland Russia, serving as a key supply route for Russian forces in the Ukraine war.

According to reports, President Putin asked Prime Minister Kusnulin about the restoration status of the Crimean Bridge and expressed hope that the road and railway would be fully restored by at least next summer. The media also noted that Putin walked along part of the bridge and pointed out visibly charred sections.

The Kremlin stated, "Amid ongoing threats from Ukraine to continue attacks on the Crimean Bridge, President Putin emphasized the importance of the land route leading to the Crimean Peninsula." It also reported that Putin urged ensuring a safe land transport connection between the Crimean Peninsula and Russia.

AFP explained that this visit marks the closest President Putin has come to the frontline since Russia invaded Ukraine.

President Putin attracted attention by personally driving a truck across the Crimean Bridge during its opening ceremony on May 18, 2018. However, on October 8, an explosion caused part of the vehicle bridge to collapse and damaged part of the railway bridge.

Russia attributed this to Ukrainian terrorism and launched airstrikes with 84 missiles across Ukraine, including the capital Kyiv, two days later on the 10th.

At the time, President Putin acknowledged the retaliatory nature of the airstrikes, stating, "If such incidents continue on our territory, Russia's response will be severe," referring to the Crimean Bridge explosion.