A Bridge on troubled waters

A First Day Cover from Russia 

Crimean Bridge - date of issue - May 2018 

The Crimean Bridge constructed between 2014 - 2018 and opened to traffic on May 15 , 2018 is the longest bridge in Europe. 

The bridge connects the Crimean peninsula with the Taman peninsula of Russian mainland across the strait of Kerch in the Black Sea. 

History 

A bridge across this strait was first planned by Tsar Nicholas II in 1903 but has been abandoned several times after that , because of various geo- political and environmental issues. 

In March 2014, Russia annexed Crimea from Ukraine by military intervention soon after the 2014 Ukraine Revolution. Russia has used up massive man power and finances in constructing this long bridge - that can be used for both automobiles and railways. 

Strategy

Russia has built the bridge claiming that it would improve the impoverished Crimean peninsula and bring back its GDP to the average Russian GDP. It claims that easy transport to the peninsula would improve its economy because, Ukraine had cut off access through its mainland and only ferry services were available from Taman. 

By building the bridge with a height span of just 55 metres, Russia has blocked traffic of large Ukrainian ships to the Ukraine ports north of the bridge ! Russians have established dominance over the ship traffic in the region ! 

Problems

The Bridge is located on a very earthquake prone zone and the sea underneath has lots of volcanic mud pools that is very dangerous. So the safety of this bridge is a matter of serious concern ! 

Another cover with the beautiful stamp :) 

And a Maxicard ! 

Thanks Sergey and Yuliya for these beautiful covers and postcards :)