HIGH PRIORITY: Crimean Bridge Under Serious Military Protection From Land, Sea and Space
One can't see all 12 miles of the Crimean Bridge, which gracefully stretches over the Kerch Strait, even through binoculars. But one can easily see both the water's surface and the shore. And this is the zone of special control: the Crimean bridge is under tight security.
The coast guard patrol boat is on combat duty. All of those who are in the sea are being closely watched. When, where and under which flag they sail: they know about every ship. On the radar, monitor everything is in clear sight.
Alexey Petrov, captain of the coast guard patrol boat: Since 2014, when the first pile was driven, we have been here, providing security, checking, watching. All of it was before our eyes.
– Is the Crimean Bridge secure? Is there anything to worry about?
– Don't worry, it's very secure.
Heading to the snow-white arches, along with a caravan of ships from the Sea of Azov to the Black Sea and back, the coast guard patrol boat cruises 24 hours per day. The sea traffic here is like on a busy highway.
"Dear passengers, greetings. You are approaching the Crimean Bridge. Right now you are on the point of inspection. I ask you to take your belongings and papers".
Security is not only on the water but also on the ground. There are inspection points on the road on both sides of the Kerch Strait. The traffic police check approximately every 10th car.
Nikita Garanin, chief of the road service of the Crimean Republic: "The Crimean Bridge is very unique object, which has no other equals in Russia today, So the transportation security measures taken here are also unique, in principle".
A stop for no more than five minutes before moving on, because the most picturesque 12 miles are ahead.
– We want to go on the same road, where Vladimir Putin drove.
– And to make a wish?
– Yes! Under the arches. To make a wish under the arches. No one could build such a bridge for Crimea. And we managed.
– We have the best bridge in Russia.
And also well secured, even from beyond the clouds. The Crimean Bridge is watched from the ISS too. Experts compare the security level of the bridge with the one at nuclear power plants.
The first mile of the Crimean Bridge starts here on the road over the Kerch Strait. And we start to drive from one shore to another. Dozens of CCTV cameras will watch us, as well as the other cars, for all 12 miles. On what trajectory and at what speed our car moves is monitored live in the Traffic Control Center. These screens display the latest information on traffic congestion, the weather and the condition of the bridge's construction. No threat is dangerous with this level of security.
Olga Armyakova, Konstantin Morozov, Nikita Katchenko, Vesti, the Crimean Bridge.