The Russian president officially opened a train bridge spanning Crimea and the Russian mainland. His journey marked the first time that trains have been able to run off the peninsula since its annexation in 2014.
He crossed the 19-kilometer (12 miles) bridge from Kerch on the Crimean side to the Taman peninsula on mainland Russian accompanied by construction workers. Spectators watched the crossing on a screen from Taman Passazhirskaya station.
Putin rode shotgun for the TV cameras on the inaugural crossingImage: picture-alliance/dpa/TASS/M. Metzel
Putin congratulated construction workers on completing the bridge, saying that "it has proven our ability to carry out large-scale infrastructure projects."
People watched the rail crossing on a screen from TamanImage: Imago Images/Tass/M. Metzel
Reconnecting Crimea
The $3.6 billion (€3.25 billion) bridge consists of parallel automobile and railway sections. Planning for construction began in 2014. The automobile segment of the bridge was formally opened by Putin in May 2018 and made available for cargo traffic in the autumn of the same year. The railway bridge will open to freight trains in June 2020.
Prior to annexation, train traffic ran between Simferopol and Sevastopol in Crimea to cities in Ukraine, Russia, Belarus and Poland. Since traffic was interrupted only suburban trains have kept running inside the peninsula.
The opening of the bridge to commuter traffic now makes it possible to travel between St. Petersburg and Sevastopol, with the journey lasting nearly 43 hours. The first train undertaking this mammoth journey was timed to arrive in Crimea shortly after the St. Petersburg-born Putin opened the bridge.
Russia officially claims Crimea
In record time, Russia and the Moscow-backed Crimean government approved the annexation of the peninsula to the Russian Federation on Thursday (20.03.2014). Russia's actions have also dominated the EU summit in Brussels.
Image: Reuters
Ukraine overshadows EU summit
At the EU's spring summit, Europe's leaders are deciding on further sanctions against Russia. Ahead of the two-day meeting, which began on Thursday (20.03.2014), the EU heads of state and government announced the cancelation of the next EU-Russia summit, as a punitive measure against Russia's actions in Crimea.
Image: REUTERS
Military control
Russia is expanding its military power on the Black Sea peninsula. On Wednesday (19.03.2014), pro-Russian forces brought a number of Ukrainian military bases under their control - such as in the port city of Sevastopol, where this picture was taken.
Image: Reuters
Constitutional approach
As Russian troops advanced on the Ukrainian military base in Perevalnoe, Russia's Constitutional Court declared the treaty to annex Crimea to the Russian Federation to be constitutional. President Vladimir Putin signed the document, which has not been internationally recognized, on Tuesday (18.03.2014), and it has since been ratified by the Duma.
Image: Dan Kitwood/Getty Images
Wordless retreat
"Russian soldiers came and demanded that we leave the base," said a Ukrainian army official, as quoted by news agencies. In this photo, an officer leaves the Ukrainian navy base at Novoozerne. Ukraine wants to bring its troops back from Crimea, but said it plans to put its military on full combat readiness.
Image: FILIPPO MONTEFORTE/AFP/Getty Images
Striking performance
In his speech to the Russian Federation Council and the deputies of the Duma, against the magnificent backdrop of the Grand Kremlin Palace on Tuesday, Putin referred to Crimea as an "inseparable part" of Russia and accused the West of crossing a "red line" in Ukraine.
Image: Reuters
Fast track to annexation
No sooner said than done: In a ceremony at the Kremlin, Putin signed off on Crimea's accession treaty. Seen here are the Russian president (second from right), Crimean Prime Minister Sergei Aksyonov (left), Vladimir Konstantinov, speaker of the Crimean parliament (second from left) and Alexei Chaly, the mayor of Sevastopol (right).
Image: Reuters
Joyful anticipation
As Ukrainian soldiers and their families leave the Crimean peninsula, others are welcoming the accession to Russia. "I am sure that our lives will be better," said a pro-Russian resident of Sevastopol.
Image: Reuters
Cheers for annexation
Hundreds of people in Crimea greeted Vladimir Putin's speech announcing the annexation with enthusiasm - some watching on large screens, as seen here in Simferopol. More than 90 percent of Crimea's residents voted in the referendum on Sunday (16.03.2014) in support of closer ties with Russia.
Image: picture-alliance/dpa
Popular president
Putin's inroads in Crimea have been popular with many Russians. After his speech to the nation, hundreds of thousands of followers gathered in several Russian cities to celebrate their president's appearance and Crimea's annexation.
Image: DMITRY SEREBRYAKOV/AFP/Getty Images
Fighters of the Maidan
Activists are still gathering on the Maidan, Kyiv's Independence Square, the scene of the months-long struggle against the regime of Ukraine's former President Viktor Yanukovych. They have not given up hope, even on the day after Crimea's secession from Ukraine seemed certain.
Image: Spencer Platt/Getty Images
Moving closer to Europe
A few months ago, demonstrators from this pro-Europe group met on the Maidan to call for a referendum on joining Ukraine to the European Union. At the EU summit on March 21 this goal came one step closer, as a part of the association agreement with Ukraine was signed.
