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Russia's energy bridge to Crimea taken under increased protection — Crimean leader

The energy bridge to Crimea project provides for the construction of a power transmission line from the Rostov nuclear power plant in southern Russia to Crimea’s capital Simferopol

MOSCOW, November 30 /TASS/. Russian security services have increased protection of an energy bridge, which is supposed to supply energy from mainland Russia to Crimea but is still under construction, Crimea’s Head Sergey Aksyonov said in an interview with the Russian News Service on Monday.

"The Anti-Terrorism Committee drew up a list of facilities, including the energy bridge, to be taken under increased protection long ago following the calls of our former compatriots who are currently residing in Ukraine. Naturally, measures to protect these facilities against terror attacks have been tightened," Aksyonov said.

Despite the fact that police patrols are on duty at the populated localities on the peninsula, everything is under control and the situation is normal.

"People’s security is guaranteed in full," the politician emphasized.

According to him, the people of Crimea have long adapted themselves to schedules of electricity supplies.

"At present, there is clear understanding in all regions with regards to these schedules. People know at what time they have light (in their homes); when they can charge their cell phones and cook food," Aksyonov stressed.

The energy bridge to Crimea project provides for the construction of a power transmission line from the Rostov nuclear power plant in southern Russia to Crimea’s capital Simferopol. One of its sections will include a cable with a downfall of 850 MW that will run through the bottom of the Kerch Strait.

The energy bridge to Crimea is being built under the federal target programme for Crimea’s development until 2020.

Russian Energy Minister Alexander Novak told journalists last week that the energy bridge’s first stage, connecting Russia’s southern Krasnodar territory with Crimea, might become operational before December 20, 2015 with an aim to guarantee Crimea’s energy independence from Ukraine.

Crimea was left without electricity in the early hours of morning on November 22 after the towers of the last two power transmission lines bound for Crimea had been blown up in Ukraine. Crimea’s energy system is operating in an isolated regime. Rolling electricity blackouts are occurring on the peninsula on and off in a bid to save energy. Russia’s Federal Security Service has initiated criminal proceedings on sabotage charges.