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Crimea has improved under Russian rule, say locals

Tuesday, 15 November 2022 10:48 AM [ Last Update: Tuesday, 15 November 2022 10:48 AM ]

Johnny Miller
Press TV, Crimea

The beautiful and historic seaside town of Yalta is on the southern coast of Crimea. I came here to find out whether locals are happy with Russian rule after they took over the peninsula in 2014.

There is no doubt Russia has invested heavily in Crimea. They have built major highways and replaced old power plants with new ones. The improvements since 2014 are immediately clear to any visitor. But not all are entirely happy.

This is Sergey, a journalist. He is fighting a running battle with local authorities to repair town infrastructure, showing me pictures in his newspaper of cracked sidewalks and rotting piers.

In 2014, Western sanctions were slapped on Crimea. Cruise ships could no longer dock meaning a major drop in International tourism. But there has also been a rise in Russian tourists. Foreign companies also had to leave, meaning opportunities for local entrepreneurs.

This used to be a McDonald's restaurant. It is now owned locally. They make the same food with the same equipment left behind by McDonald's.

The major grievances I hear in Crimea now are about bureaucracy and corruption.

While President Zelensky recently claimed Crimeans would welcome Ukraine if they ever regained control of the peninsula, the truth is that despite the type of criticism, typical the world over, the vast majority of people here are grateful for and feel the progress under Russian rule.

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