‘Factories are working’: Russian investment wins over some Crimeans 10 years after invasion
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00:00 It's here in Crimea that Russia in 2014 seized control of the Black Sea peninsula, installing
00:07 a pro-Russian government, changing the language studied to Russian and militarizing its society.
00:13 But a decade later, on the annexation anniversary, some Crimean residents feel positive about
00:18 the situation.
00:19 "People's attitudes towards culture and Russian literature are changing.
00:24 You cannot deny the fact that the bridge was built, factories are working and people are
00:28 living much better."
00:30 "A network of highways, bridges, hospitals, schools, everything appeared that wasn't there
00:35 before.
00:36 There's more choice of goods in the stores.
00:38 Crimea is Russia.
00:39 Always was, is and always will be."
00:43 Since seizing Crimea, Moscow has poured resources into it, building a 250-kilometer highway
00:49 across the peninsula, as well as the $3 billion Crimean bridge that connects to Russia by
00:54 road and rail.
00:56 Crimean residents underlined this infrastructure creation as a key benefit.
01:00 "Our symbol of indestructibility is the Crimean bridge.
01:04 Our Tavrida highway connects more than 40 settlements across Crimea, so we no longer
01:09 need to go somewhere to the mainland for high-tech operations."
01:12 Over the last two years, Moscow has claimed Ukraine targeted the bridge to damage a key
01:19 supply route for the Kremlin's forces.
01:22 The international community has condemned Russia's annexation of Crimea as illegal,
01:27 with the majority continuing to recognise it as Ukrainian territory.
01:32 Since Russia's invasion of Ukraine, Kyiv has vowed to restore its 1991 borders, which include
01:37 Crimea.