Russian President Vladimir Putin instructed the Krasnodar Territory Governor Veniamin Kondratiev, the Ministry of Transport, the Ministry of Emergencies and the Ministry of Internal Affairs to shift traffic toward Crimea via the newly incorporated regions of the Russian Federation. The directive was reported by news agencies.
“There is a request to coordinate with all services, including regional authorities, federal departments, the transport sector, the Ministry of Emergencies and the Interior,” Putin stated. “Everything that can be done for citizens must be done.”
Kondratiev responded that guiding travel through the annexed territories would be a source of pride for the nation, as long as safety measures for holidaymakers are respected. He emphasized that compliance with security protocols is nonnegotiable for the wellbeing of travelers.
Putin also urged officials to help travelers recover time previously spent crossing into the peninsula if significant traffic jams persist. He informed Transport Minister Vitaly Savelyev that the head of state is reachable on these concerns whenever needed.
Savelyev noted that the Ministry of Transport anticipates peak load on the Crimean bridge around mid-July. He added that if necessary, two landing craft could be mobilized to shuttle vehicles more efficiently.
“Tourist traffic will rise and then fall,” the minister explained. “We will assess whether two additional landing craft, which we are currently considering, should be deployed.” He also pointed out that peak congestion typically occurs on Fridays through Sundays.
Savelyev stated that opening a second route on the Chongarsky bridge from the Kherson region to Crimea should ease pressure on the Crimean bridge itself. He explained that this alternative route enables drivers to bypass the main crossing altogether. He cited statistics showing that more than 1,200 vehicles crossed the Crimean bridge on the previous day, moving through newly opened corridors.
On the Crimean side, officials reported that the traffic queue on the Krasnodar Territory approach reached about 4 kilometers on Tuesday morning, with an estimated two-hour wait to pass. From Crimea’s side, the queue measured roughly 100 meters, with waits around ten minutes.
Savelyev reported a sharp 40 percent rise in traffic to the peninsula since the first days of July. On July 1, a traffic jam formed on the Kuban side, growing to about 9 kilometers by the evening. To reduce the buildup, inspection line work was intensified and additional traffic police were deployed. The ministry noted that the congestion coincides with more vehicles and goods requiring checks at border points.
During a government meeting, the transport minister informed Putin about an additional ferry planned to operate across the Kerch Strait starting July 7. The Kerch 2 car-passenger ferry would run around the clock, completing five round trips daily and accommodating up to 200 vehicles in each direction.
Drivers caught in delays near the Crimean bridge shared their experiences with reporters. Inna, a traveler from Moscow with children, described her vacation as a known risk, noting nonrefundable hotel reservations and prepared supplies. She mentioned cooling efforts in the heat of 30 degrees, stockpiled water, and a patient mindset. She praised the police for assisting with obstacles and maintaining order at inspection points. Some travelers reported shortages of water distribution in jams, while others noted volunteers providing drinking water to those in line.