President Vladimir Putin Inaugurate Kerch Strait Bridge by driving a truck linking Russia to Crimea

President of Russia #VladimirPutin inaugurated a nearly 11.8 mile-long controversial bridge by driving a bright-orange #kamaz truck across it, the bridge connect Southern #Russia to annexed #Crimea peninsula that Russian troops seized from Ukraine in 2014. The bridge that spans the #KerchStrait establishes Russia’s first land connection with Crimea and, as such, is freighted with symbolism, with the #Kremlin portraying it as a physical affirmation of the region’s incorporation into Russia. Speaking at a celebratory concert on the other side of the bridge, where some of Russia’s music stars performed, Putin hailed engineers, telling them the project’s completion was ’a miracle.’ State television showed Putin first meeting with a group of workers before climbing into the Russian-made Kamaz truck and leading a column of other trucks across the bridge. A camera in the truck’s cabin showed a pleased-looking Putin bouncing in his seat as he drove and making small talk with two worke