To secure the Crimea-Russia axis, a target of Ukrainian attacks, Moscow is considering building an underwater tunnel. According to the Washington Post, Chinese companies have already been contacted.
An underwater tunnel to avoid outdoor risks. This is the lead that Moscow has been investigating in Crimea. According to communications intercepted by Ukrainian security services and published by The Washington Post, Russian and Chinese companies are in talks to launch this gigantic project.
According to the American daily newspaper, one of the largest Chinese construction companies is already in talks. A Russian-Chinese consortium has even been formed in Crimea to lead the work. The Washington Post also assumes that a Chinese joint stock company is already based in Russia, where it was particularly involved in the expansion of the Moscow subway in 2021. She did not respond when asked by the newspaper.
Thousands of employees within range of Ukrainian missiles?
Also interviewed, Russian businessman Vladimir Kalyuzhny, who according to the documents seen would be the consortium’s general director, called the matter “a lot of wind” and described the Post as a “hostile medium.” Nevertheless, the daily mentions a letter in which the Chinese company expresses its desire to “participate as a general contractor in the construction of a tunnel under the Kerch Strait.”
Whether proven or not, this project fascinates the American authorities. “It would be strange if a consortium of large Chinese companies or the government supported such a project,” said an American official, saying Beijing would not risk facing sanctions from the international community. Although the underground work could be carried out with minimal risk, the project would also put thousands of employees and expensive equipment within range of Ukrainian missiles. Last and not least final obstacle: Such a construction would require several years of work and would cost several billion euros.
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Whether proven or not, such a project would meet Moscow’s needs in Crimea. The peninsula, which was annexed in 2014, has been subject to increasing drone attacks for several weeks. The 18-kilometer-long concrete bridge, inaugurated by Vladimir Putin in 2018, has been the target of several attacks. This huge building consists of two parallel structures, one of which is reserved for road traffic and the other for rail traffic.
TG