Government-linked Russian and Chinese business executives held secret talks regarding constructing an underwater tunnel linking Russia to Ukraine’s Russian-occupied Crimea to create a secure transportation route shielded from potential attacks by Ukraine, as revealed by intercepted communications by Ukraine’s security services, The Washington Post reported.

These discussions, involving meetings held in late October, were prompted by escalating Russian concerns over the security of an 11-mile bridge spanning the Kerch Strait that Russia built after its occupation of Crimea in 2014. This bridge has been a vital logistics route for the Russian military but has endured two bombings by Ukraine and remains susceptible to wartime attacks.

“Constructing a tunnel near the existing bridge would face enormous obstacles, according to US officials and engineering experts who said work of such magnitude, probably costing billions of dollars and taking years to complete, has never been attempted in a war zone,” WP wrote.

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