Russian President Vladimir Putin participated in the public ceremony for the renewed bridge over the Kalmius River in Mariupol through a video link. The event marked the official commissioning of the transport facility as reported by the Kremlin’s media stream. The head of state spoke remotely, highlighting the significance of the project for the city’s mobility and regional connectivity.
During the remarks, Putin stressed that multiple road projects were being opened at the same time. He pointed out that the major overhaul of the Mariupol bridge is now complete, a milestone that will restore and strengthen transport links across different neighborhoods and districts within the city. The completion is intended to streamline movement across the urban landscape, reducing travel times and easing the flow of goods and people.
The president also noted that the bridge project supports faster traffic toward Crimea along the Novorossiysk corridor. He suggested that improving this link could expand transportation cooperation with the Russian peninsula, reinforcing economic and logistical exchanges across the broader region.
Official plans for 2023 call for the construction or reconstruction of more than 31 thousand kilometers of roads across Russia, underscoring a wide program aimed at expanding and upgrading the nation’s road network to boost regional accessibility and resilience.
In addition to the Mariupol project, Putin attended the opening ceremony for the bridge Along the Svir River in the Leningrad region, another step in a broader infrastructure initiative intended to improve cross-border and intra-regional connectivity. The day’s events also featured a light moment when Putin made a humorous remark about the notion of a supreme body of government in Russia, reflecting a moment of informal interaction within the formal ceremony.