Russian defense ministry launches new infrastructure project in occupied Crimea

Russian occupation authorities in Crimea have undertaken a new infrastructure project, launching the construction of a new runway at the Belbek military airfield.

Preparatory works are underway to lay a 4 km-long asphalt runway, the Ukrainian Ministry for Temporarily Occupied Territories and Internally Displaced Persons reports.

Read alsoUkraine's infrastructure ministry tracks companies involved in Kerch bridge construction – OmelyanSatellite imagery shows 60 units of construction machinery deployed in the equipment where nine MiG-29 fighter jets are stationed as well 26 SU-27s, an An-26 cargo aircraft, and almost 100 vehicles and other special equipment.

"The construction of an additional runway for civilian needs creates new opportunities for violations of Ukrainian and international laws by international air carriers. This indicates the intention of the occupation authorities to create reserve communication routes between the peninsula and Russia in the event of service disruption at the Simferopol Airport, or the failure of the Kerch bridge construction project," the ministry said.

It is the Russian defense ministry that ordered the new runway construction, which indicates Moscow's plans to strengthen their military presence on the peninsula, the report said.

Read alsoRussia seizes over 7 bcm of Ukrainian gas in annexed Crimea – expert"The new runway parameters show that the Belbek airfield will be able to receive all types of military aircraft, including strategic ones," the ministry stressed.

As UNIAN reported earlier, Russian President Vladimir Putin might take part in the ceremony of launching traffic across the Kerch bridge's motor vehicle section.

During his visit to Crimea on March 14, Putin announced that car traffic across the bridge would be opened in May 2018, while trains will start running at the end of 2019.