Russia allegedly wants, with the help of China, to build a tunnel under the Kerch Strait in the occupied Crimea.
Russia, with China’s help, wants to build a tunnel under the Kerch Strait in occupied Crimea, which would be protected from attacks from Ukraine, The Washington Post reports, citing recordings that intercepted by the Ukrainian intelligence services.
What can they build?
According to the publication, at the end of October secret negotiations took place between Chinese and Russian businessmen close to the countries’ authorities. Journalists have learned that one of China’s largest construction companies, the China Railway Construction Corporation (CRCC), has agreed to participate in the project.
He expressed his readiness “to ensure the construction of railways and roads of any complexity in the Crimean region,” according to emails reviewed by WP.
At the same time, CRCC agreed to participate only if it maintained complete confidentiality and changed the name of the company to another in all contracts. According to the newspaper, another email mentioned a Chinese bank that wanted to convert dollars into rubles to transfer money to occupied Crimea to finance the company’s projects.
The cost of such a tunnel could be $5 billion. At the same time, US officials and engineering experts told the publication that such a project could face “enormous obstacles” and would take years to complete.
Crimean Bridge – goal
Since the beginning of the full-scale war, the Ukrainian Armed Forces have twice successfully attacked the Crimean Bridge, which was built illegally by the invaders.
The first time was in October 2022, the second time was July 17, 2023. The first time the bridge was blown up by a truck full of explosives. The explosion collapsed about 250 meters of the highway and burned seven tanks of a freight train. 5 people died.
The bridge was attacked a second time by the Ukrainian naval kamikaze drone MAGURA V5. These drones are capable of carrying up to 300 kg of explosives over a distance of up to 800 km.
Explosions are regularly heard in Crimea – Russians talk about “air defense work” and often block traffic on the Crimean Bridge, trying to “camouflage” it. Since the summer, Ukraine has conducted several successful special operations on the peninsula, pushing back the Russians in the Black Sea.
When American General Ben Hodges was asked the question: “How to liberate Crimea from the Russian invaders with little bloodshed?” He immediately said that the first thing that needs to be done is to destroy the Crimean bridgehead and deprive the Russian occupation contingent in Crimea of stable logistical supplies.
Of course, Russia is deeply concerned that the illegally built structure across the Kerch Strait – a key logistics route for the Russian military – is being repeatedly targeted by Ukraine. The Crimean Bridge remains a vulnerable target.
It is difficult to implement the project
Building a tunnel alongside the existing bridge would face serious obstacles, according to US officials and engineering experts.
The project would also create political and financial risks for China, which has never officially recognized its annexation of Crimea and whose companies could be trapped by economic sanctions imposed by the United States and the European Union on Russia. .
As for project deployment under hazardous conditions, it is true that underground work can be carried out almost safely, but thousands of employees, expensive equipment and large construction sites will remain in range of Ukrainian missiles. Because of the threat of strikes, Russia and China are unlikely to use new construction methods using giant dredging vessels on the surface of the water, experts say. At the same time, they have no choice but to use traditional tunneling technology.
Engineers explained that it was very difficult to sabotage unless the entrances were attacked. The construction of the tunnel will require the Russian military to protect not only the strait, but also the necessary coastal production facilities. So it is a high risk operation.
Source: korrespondent
I am David Wyatt, a professional writer and journalist for Buna Times. I specialize in the world section of news coverage, where I bring to light stories and issues that affect us globally. As a graduate of Journalism, I have always had the passion to spread knowledge through writing.