Ukraine Suspends Cargo Traffic to Crimea After Blasts Cut Power
- Government to consult with Tatars on supplies to peninsula
- Tatar leader demands Russia release political prisoners
A darkened home in Simferopol, Crimea, on Nov 22.
Photographer: Max Vetrov/AFP via Getty ImagesThis article is for subscribers only.
Ukraine temporarily suspended cargo traffic to Crimea as protesters blocked authorities’ efforts to restore power to the peninsula after explosions plunged almost two million people into darkness on Sunday.
Ethnic Tatars from the territory, which Russian President Vladimir Putin annexed from Ukraine last year, have blocked trucks from entering since last week. They said on Monday that talks to restore power can resume after Russia releases political prisoners. Workers can return electricity to the Black Sea peninsula within 72 hours of gaining access to the site, Ukrainian Energy Minister Volodymyr Demchyshyn said at a government meeting.