Putin discusses using ‘corridor’ through recently annexed Ukrainian regions to address traffic jam at Crimean Bridge

In a conference call with members of the government, Russian president Vladimir Putin discussed the traffic jams at the Crimean Bridge, reports Interfax.

Russia’s Transport Minister Vitaly Savelyev said that traffic at the bridge will increase by the weekend, and the peak amount of traffic will be on July 16-17. “If need be,” he said that two large landing craft, which can carry up to 40 cars each, can be used to transport vehicles. According to Savelyev, Defense Minister Sergey Shoigu is prepared to provide such ships.

In the conference call, Veniamin Kondratyev, governor of Russia’s Krasnodar Krai region, suggested using a transport corridor through the “new regions” (that’s how he referred to the recently annexed territories of Ukraine), in case the traffic jam increases manifold. Putin instructed the governor, together with the Emergency Situations Ministry, Internal Affairs Ministry, and other ministries, to evaluate this proposal “from all points of view, but, of course, to use all capabilities.”