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EU sanctions on Crimea bridge builders: a look back
Summary
A retrospective on the EU's decision to penalise six Russian companies tied to the Crimean bridge, reported as of 2 August 2018.
What did the European Union do about the bridge linking mainland Russia to Crimea? By 2 August 2018, it had imposed sanctions on six Russian companies involved in building the structure. The measures were reported on 31 July 2018 as part of the wider state of Russia–European Union relations.
The bridge connects mainland Russia to the Crimean peninsula, which Russia annexed from Ukraine. The sanctions targeted the companies that took part in its construction.
The annexation behind the bridge
Russia invaded Crimea in February and March 2014, occupied it, and then annexed it after an illegitimate referendum. This took place amid the uncertainty that followed Ukraine's Revolution of Dignity. The invasion marked the beginning of the Russo-Ukrainian war.
By tying the penalties to the companies building the bridge, the EU's decision placed the construction project within the dispute over Crimea's status.
