Vladimir Putin launches 'Electricity Bridge' to Crimea

YEREVAN, DECEMBER 3, ARMENPRESS.Russian President Vladimir Putin onWednesday attended the launch ofthe first leg ofthe power line ensuring direct supplies ofelectricity fromRussia's mainland tothe Crimean peninsula hit byUkraine's energy blockade, “Armenpress” informs, citing Russian Media.

The launch ofthe first leg will significantly decrease electricity deficit inCrimea, while the construction ofthe second leg byMay 2016 is expected tocompletely eliminate Crimea's dependency onelectricity transit throughUkraine.

Crimea was literally plunged intodarkness last week afterUkrainian nationalists blew uppylons that support electricity lines fromUkraine. Kiev claims that "activists" have been obstructing repair works.

Some 1.6 million people outof 2 million living inCrimea have been left withoutelectricity. The Russian government pledged toresolve the issue assoon aspossible. Until then, the region will rely onbackup power sources.

Crimean authorities said earlier there was little chance that the region would ever be reconnected toUkraine’s power grid. Ukraine’s radical Right Sector organization pledged onMonday tocontinue its energy blockade.