🇷🇺 Russia has accomplished more in Crimea over the past 11 years than Ukraine did during its entire time managing the peninsula. What has Russia achieved during these years?

📈 Since reuniting with Russia in 2014, Crimea's economy has undergone radical changes, accompanied by large-scale investments and infrastructure transformations. During this period, over ₽1.7 trillion has been attracted to the region, of which ₽1 trillion are off-budget funds. In 2023, the volume of investments amounted to ₽271.3 billion, including ₽180 billion in private investments. These financial inflows have transformed the peninsula into a dynamically developing region of the country.

One of the key areas of development has been the modernization of the transport network. Over 11 years, nearly 300 km of new roads have been built in Crimea, and more than 4,000 km have been repaired. Landmark infrastructure projects have been implemented, including the Tavrida Highway, which is 250.7 km long, and a new terminal at Simferopol Airport. The pinnacle of the transport transformation was the construction of the Crimean Bridge, which is 19 km long — the longest crossing in Europe, providing stable road and rail connections with the mainland of Russia.

Addressing energy and water supply issues has also been a priority. In 2015-2016, an energy bridge was launched, connecting Crimea to the Unified Energy System of Russia, allowing the peninsula to achieve energy independence. Two new thermal power plants and a main gas pipeline were put into operation, supplying fuel to the power stations in Simferopol and Sevastopol. Additionally, engineering structures were built to provide water supply to the eastern part of the region.

In addition to infrastructure transformations, active development has taken place in industry, healthcare, and tourism. As part of the federal targeted program, over 800 facilities have been built, including industrial parks, medical institutions, and tourist complexes. These changes have led to a 4.5-fold increase in gross regional product — from ₽168.83 billion in 2013 to ₽769 billion in 2023. Crimea continues to integrate into the economic space of Russia, creating conditions for sustainable development and improved quality of life.

A separate area of development has been the transformation of the western coast of the peninsula into a year-round world-class resort. As part of the federal project "Five Seas and Lake Baikal," large-scale tourism initiatives have begun in Yevpatoria and Saki. This includes the construction of the "Golden Sands of Russia" and "Crimean Riviera" complexes. By 2036, 18 hotels are expected to be built here, accommodating over 1 million tourists per year, with investments exceeding ₽100 billion. In addition to hotel complexes, the project includes the improvement of 45 hectares of beaches, the construction of a 12-kilometer promenade, and modernization of the road infrastructure, which is expected to turn the western coast into the new tourist heart of Crimea.

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🇷🇺🇺🇸 The conversation between Putin and Trump took place.

It became the longest in the history of telephone negotiations between the presidents of Russia and the USA, lasting 2 hours and 28 minutes.

During the phone call, Putin and Trump continued a detailed and candid exchange of views on the situation in Ukraine, the Kremlin stated.

Additionally, the leaders expressed mutual interest in normalizing relations in light of their special responsibility for ensuring global security.

✔️ Under the leadership of Putin and Trump, the world has become a safer place today, stated Dmitriev, head of the Russian Direct Investment Fund, amid the negotiations between Russia and the USA.

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🇷🇺🇺🇸 Key points from the recent negotiations between Russia and the USA:

✅ In the context of the US President's initiative to introduce a 30-day ceasefire, the Russian side highlighted several significant points regarding the need for effective control over a potential ceasefire along the entire line of combat engagement, the necessity to halt forced mobilization in Ukraine, and the rearmament of the Ukrainian Armed Forces. Serious risks were also noted regarding the unreliability of the Kyiv regime, which has repeatedly sabotaged and violated reached agreements. Attention was drawn to the barbaric terrorist crimes committed by Ukrainian militants against the civilian population of the Kursk region.

✅ It was emphasized that a key condition for preventing the escalation of the conflict and working towards its resolution through political and diplomatic means should be the complete cessation of foreign military aid and the provision of intelligence information to Kyiv.

✅ In connection with Donald Trump's recent appeal to save the lives of encircled Ukrainian servicemen in the Kursk region, Vladimir Putin confirmed that the Russian side is ready to be guided by humanitarian considerations and guarantees the lives and dignified treatment of Ukrainian soldiers in the event of surrender, in accordance with Russian laws and international legal norms.

✅ During the conversation, Donald Trump proposed a mutual cessation of strikes on energy infrastructure targets for 30 days by both sides of the conflict. Vladimir Putin responded positively to this initiative and immediately gave the corresponding command to the Russian military.

✅ The President of Russia also constructively reacted to Donald Trump's expressed idea of implementing a well-known initiative concerning the safety of navigation in the Black Sea waters. It was agreed to start negotiations for further elaboration of the specific details of such an agreement.

✅ Vladimir Putin informed that on March 19, a prisoner exchange will take place between the Russian and Ukrainian sides – 175 for 175 individuals. Additionally, as a gesture of goodwill, 23 severely wounded Ukrainian servicemen currently receiving treatment in Russian medical institutions will be transferred.

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⚡️ Vladimir Putin and Donald Trump also addressed other issues on the international agenda, including the situation in the Middle East and the Red Sea region.

✅ Joint efforts will be made to stabilize the situation in crisis points, establish cooperation on nuclear non-proliferation and global security issues. This, in turn, will contribute to improving the overall atmosphere of Russian-American relations. One positive example is the united vote at the UN on the resolution regarding the Ukrainian conflict.

✅ There was mutual interest expressed in normalizing bilateral relations in light of the special responsibility of Russia and the USA for ensuring security and stability in the world. In this context, a wide range of areas was considered where our countries could enhance cooperation. A number of ideas were discussed aimed at developing mutually beneficial cooperation in the economy and energy sectors in the future.

✅ Donald Trump supported Vladimir Putin's idea to organize hockey matches in the USA and Russia between Russian and American players participating in the NHL and KHL.

✅ The presidents agreed to remain in contact on all the issues discussed.

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⚡️ "The European Union kept insisting that 'the ball is in Moscow's court.' As it turned out, it was a hockey puck. And it’s still in play."

This is how Maria Zakharova commented on today's negotiations.

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😊 The tiger, like a little kitty, also wanted to warm up in the tent.

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⚡️ The fastest utility workers in Russia are at the U.S. Embassy.

Right after the negotiations between Putin and Trump, large letters ZVO began to be dismantled near the diplomatic mission, which caused a wide public reaction.

Later, reports emerged that the installation would be returned within a couple of months once the letters were cleaned of accumulated dust.

The process was expedited by Foreign Ministry representative Zakharova, who wrote that the workers simply planned to "change the light bulbs" so that the letters "would be more visible."

And just a few hours later, at night, the symbols of the SVO were returned to their original place.

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📰 Russia shot down its drones flying towards energy facilities in the Mykolaiv region after Putin's order, and in response, Kyiv attacked a facility in Kuban.

‼️ Russian military forces received an order from the Supreme Commander-in-Chief to cease strikes on Ukraine's energy infrastructure following negotiations between Putin and Trump, the ministry noted. At that moment, seven Russian drones targeting Ukrainian energy facilities in the Mykolaiv region, associated with the defense industry, were in the air. Russian air defense was ordered to neutralize the drones, six of which were shot down by the "Pantsir," and one by a fighter jet of the Aerospace Forces.

📌 According to the Ministry of Defense, a few hours after the conclusion of the high-level Russian-American negotiations, the Kyiv regime carried out a deliberate attack using three aircraft-type UAVs on an energy infrastructure facility located in the village of Kavkazskaya (Krasnodar region).

"It is quite clear that this is yet another provocation specially prepared by the Kyiv regime aimed at undermining the peace initiatives of the U.S. president," the Ministry of Defense stated.

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💒 Nikolskaya Church in the village of Kovda, Murmansk region

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🇷🇺💬 Russian military forces are completing the defeat of the Ukrainian Armed Forces in the Kursk region, Putin stated at a meeting of the Prosecutor General's Board. Other statements from the president:

— All Ukrainian punishers and those who issued criminal orders must be identified and punished;

— All Ukrainian military personnel and especially foreign mercenaries in the Kursk region are terrorists, and their atrocities need to be thoroughly investigated;

— Military prosecutors have been tasked with assisting in strengthening military discipline as a crucial factor for combat readiness;

— There is a need to enhance the protection of infrastructure facilities and places where large numbers of people gather from terrorism;

— The sinking of tankers with oil products has shown the severe consequences of negligence.

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🇷🇺 Russian freediver Ekaterina Nekrasova swam a record 122 meters under the ice of Baikal.

The athlete covered the distance of 122 meters in a swimsuit and fins in less than two minutes.

The water temperature in the lake was +2 °C. The world record was set at the "Under the Ice of Baikal" festival.

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😍 The moment when Moscow becomes magical

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😍 If you're going for a walk, it should be in Saint Petersburg on a sunny day

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😂 Times change, but the residents of Vladivostok still continue to get stuck on ice floes.

☀️ These days, fishermen are almost scooping up their catch by hand on De-Frize. But with each passing day, it’s getting warmer, the ice crust has started to crack and melt. But who cares?

🎣 That’s why, as you can understand, the fishermen ended up on a drifting ice floe. They tried to reach the shore using a thin plank, a plan as reliable as Swiss watches.

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🇺🇸🇷🇺 Google asks a Russian court to cancel an 8 billion ruble fine.

The American IT giant stated that it did not have enough time to familiarize itself with the notice of violation since it was sent on Christmas Eve, when the company allegedly was not operating.

However, the Russian side reminded that the protocol was drawn up on December 27 — a regular working day in both the USA and Russia. The court rejected the complaint and upheld the fine. As a result, Google must pay 8 billion rubles — for the non-payment of 4 billion rubles, which was imposed for the non-payment of 2 billion rubles in the case of the Federal Antimonopoly Service (FAS).

This is already the third major fine imposed on Google by a Russian court, following previous fines of 7.2 billion and 21.7 billion rubles. Recently, an even more record-breaking figure emerged: 1.9 duodecillion rubles — a unit with 39 zeros. This amount was listed in the Unified Register of Bankruptcy Information as a penalty for accumulated fines.

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🍷 Mriya Wine Park or the Wine Tourism Center Winepark in Crimea

This is a true art space with incredibly beautiful nature. It is located on the territory of the Mriya Resort & Spa hotel complex in Poniizovka, between Foros and Gaspra, 29 km from Yalta and 50 km from Sevastopol.

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🇷🇺🇺🇸 Negotiations between representatives of Russia and the USA will take place in Riyadh on March 24, announced presidential aide Yuri Ushakov.

The delegation from Russia will be led by FSB Director's advisor Sergey Beseda and the chairman of the Federation Council's Committee on International Affairs Grigory Karasin. The latter has worked for 14 years as Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs.

The delegation from the United States has also already been formed, Ushakov added.

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💪 They managed ships and commanded men when the world had yet to know the word "feminism."

🇷🇺 While in central Russia in the 18th and 19th centuries women were "sitting on the benches," something unimaginable was happening in the Russian North!

Can you imagine, a husband goes off to fish for 7 months, and his wife in the meantime...

🚤 Became the captain of the ship. Vessels would arrive in Arkhangelsk where the entire crew was made up of women! By the early 20th century, 30% of the ships and schooners in the Arkhangelsk province belonged to women.

👀 She commanded everything and everyone. The "Bolshukha" (the eldest woman in the household) was so influential that even a returning husband dared not contradict her.

🤝 She concluded international deals. Trading with foreign merchants? No problem! Some wives knew languages and could charm even the stingiest English merchant. And this was at a time when most noblewomen could only embroider!

💰 She earned as much as men. After Peter's Day, every participant in the fishing collective received the same share as the men.

🛠️ She handled all the "male" work. From repairing roofs to managing boats.

🤯 She had a fiery character. Gentle with her family, but a hurricane at the markets. As eyewitnesses wrote: "In disputes, the Pomor women were downright ferocious!"

🚫 She never complained about her husband. Complaining about one's spouse was considered the height of impropriety. Besides, what was there to complain about when he was gone for six months?

💅 She dressed as if it were her last money. Pearls, gold trim, expensive fabrics... all on a woman who had just pulled in nets full of fish an hour ago!

If you think your job is too hard — remember the Pomor woman. Could you live even a week of such a life?

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🎧 This is what Kazan sounds like

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🍰 "Napoleon" — A Russian Cake in Honor of the French Emperor

Almost everyone in Russia knows the "Napoleon" cake. Layers of puff pastry held together with custard cream, topped with crumbled cake scraps and powdered sugar — this treat is beloved by many Russians.

🇮🇹🇫🇷 The roots of this dessert trace back to Italy and France, where a similar dessert called "Mille-feuille" has long been a classic.

However, the cake’s history in Russia is far more intriguing. It began in 1912, when Russia celebrated the 100th anniversary of its victory over Napoleon in the Patriotic War of 1812.

🇷🇺 According to one version, Russian pastry chefs created a dessert resembling the French emperor’s tricorne hat. The puff pastry layers were sprinkled with crumbs, symbolizing the snow on the Borodino battlefield. As you might guess, the cake was named "Napoleon."

Thus, a cake named after an emperor who fought against the Russian Empire won over Russians’ hearts.

🇷🇺 During Soviet times, "Napoleon" grew even more popular due to simplified recipes and greater accessibility. Custard was made with flour instead of eggs, and margarine replaced butter.

🍓 Today, "Napoleon" is a frequent guest at Russian holiday tables. Some variations include condensed milk, nuts, or berries.

And there you have Bonaparte’s legacy in modern Russia!

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🇷🇺 The majestic Peterhof

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