Tuzla Island: the conflict between Ukraine and Russia

The island of Tuzla is not large: about six kilometers in length, and not more than five hundred meters in width, such an oblong strip of sand between the Taman peninsula and the Crimea. In itself, this scrap of sushi of special value does not represent, only its place on the geographic map is important. In 2003, this islet became famous all over the world. The Ukrainian parliament was boiling, one deputy proposed to give "a pawn for Tuzla", another introduced the neologism "to be tuzl". There were other phonetic-linguistic playfulnesses, which are not inferior to the above in elegance. Russian politicians were not inferior to their Ukrainian counterparts in their desire to demonstrate courageous brutality and militancy.

The island has normal weather ...

In an area of three and a half square kilometers, in principle, can fit a small town. It is if this territory was inhabited by the Japanese, for example, or representatives of some other people who value land above personal comfort. For Ukraine, the country is rather big, this appendage to the peninsula, received after the collapse of the USSR, was rather symbolic. It's almost impossible to live here: when it's stormy, half the area is hidden under water. In addition, the sea takes its toll: in the preceding dispute, five years, one square kilometer of the earth is washed by the waves. Strengthening work went slowly, they were limited to the installation of reinforced concrete slabs. During periods of seasonal storms, the territory was in fact separated from the "big land", but this did not stop the residents ready to forfeit, who inhabited the island of Tuzla. The recreation center "Two Seas" of the Kerch port and another, the factory, "Albatross", a fishing settlement and a border outpost peacefully got along on a small piece of land. There was even a store that worked, however, only in the warm months.

The beginning of the dispute

Nothing at first glance did not foreshadow any friction between the two fraternal states. This is not such an important part of the territory ... Russia has reconciled itself to the loss of the Crimea, not to mention such an insignificant and sparsely populated object as the island of Tuzla. The conflict arose in the autumn months of 2003, after the Ukrainian border guards saw in binoculars and later with the naked eye that a certain hydraulic engineering structure was approaching from them on the adjacent side , and quite quickly, for a hundred and fifty meters a day. How to react to what is happening, the military did not know, and reported their observations to their superiors. That, in turn, informed Kiev. Through diplomatic channels, the Ukrainian government demanded explanations from the Russian side and received them. The erected building is called a dam, it is built to improve the ecological situation in the water area of the Azov Sea. However, this explanation was not satisfied with the Ukrainian leadership, it saw in the actions of Russian hydro-builders an expansive drive on the island of Tuzla. And for such an assumption there were grounds.

Background

A painful attitude towards issues of territorial integrity was characteristic of all administrations, beginning with Kravchuk, who occupied offices on Bankova Street in Kiev. The controversial nature of the accession of the Crimean Autonomy to the Ukrainian SSR was indeed a "trump card" for politicians in Russia, especially during the pre-election period, and the counterfacts of their Ukrainian colleagues standing on the ultra patriotic platform played the same role. Objectively, the Taman shore and the island of Tuzla until 1925 were one whole, until the sea depths absorbed part of the narrow isthmus. Legally, the arguments in favor of Ukraine's belonging to this territory are not perfect, but it has been so since 1991 that any ambiguities were interpreted in favor of "younger brothers". In the Yeltsin period, even the city of union subordination Sevastopol, which was not formally included in the Crimean Autonomous Region, was transferred to Ukraine, although its Russia could be defended in international arbitration courts.

Economic background of the conflict

The dispute between Russia and Ukraine over the island of Tuzla had quite utilitarian reasons - at least two.

Firstly, the country to which it belongs, in fact and legally controls shipping through the Kerch Strait, which means the receipt of a half million US dollars annually in the budget.

Secondly, the island of Tuzla, according to all international legal norms, sets the boundary line for territorial waters. With the existing status, most of the fish resources of the Sea of Azov fell into the zone of economic interests of Ukraine.

Thus, the island of Tuzla from the almost useless in the Soviet years a scrap of sand shoal turned into a strategically important object of international law.

Possible actions

Underwater relief of the seabed area adjacent to Tuzla and encompassing the Kerch Strait, in a sense, provoked the conflict. The fact is that the most deep-water and fish-rich areas have moved to Ukraine, while the Russian Federation has got shallow water. Actually, the Russians could easily solve this issue in a different way, simply by deepening their section of the bottom. The boundary of the territorial waters would not be violated at the same time, but there would be another problem concerning the very existence of these very fish riches. Fishing is most effective in the western, deep-water part of the strait. But fish spawns on the Russian shallows. If the conditions for this do not become, then, as they say in Odessa, "there is nothing to catch" (only in the most direct sense). And fish farms were located mainly in the Crimea, then Ukrainian. It should be noted that the Russian side has not gone on such a disastrous step for the environment.

The development of conflict and mutual quarrel

Of course, to really lead any fighting, and of course, of course, could not be. To attack an attack by mobile mechanized columns of Russian hydropower engineers would have meant to commit an explicit act of aggression, the construction of a dam was going on in adjacent territorial waters. In this case, Russia's response measures, most likely, would be very tough. Another thing - rhetoric. From TV screens, newspaper pages and other Ukrainian media, calls to stand "as one" and defend the island of Tuzla. The conflict fell by the way and was bored by Russian politicians scandalously radical, urging them to "teach" and "punish".

The Importance of Tuzla Today

Russia went to concessions in 2003 and recognized the rights of Ukraine to the island of Tuzla. The hydroelectric station was completed a hundred meters from the border of territorial waters. According to experts, the dam today successfully fulfills its ecological function, that is, it prevents the erosion of the Russian coast and the further shallowing of the adjacent water area. About her today, against the backdrop of the recent Crimean and East Ukrainian events, do not even remember. As they say, in comparison with the lost head the spoiled hair does not play a role. But the task of reorientation of the peninsula, which was detached from Ukraine and annexed to Russia, to the mainland communication became urgent. The narrowest point of the sea water barrier is the Kerch Strait, in the center of which is the island of Tuzla. The bridge that connects the two banks is likely to pass here.

Perspectives of the island

Most of all, there will be two bridges, at least, this project is considered the most optimal, given the perspective loading of the overpass. In addition to the road service, it is also proposed to organize a railway. The approximate time of construction is four years. The route passes through the spit and the dam with two sections (1400 and 6100 meters). The railway track must be electrified. Thus, the island of Tuzla again acquires strategic importance. The bridge will connect the Krasnodar Territory with the Crimean region and provide independent from the political situation the possibilities of communication of the mainland with the peninsula.

In the meantime, the design of the future grandiose building is underway, mostly tourists come here. It is very beautiful, relatively deserted, clean water, to bathe, however, in some places it is dangerous because of strong currents. The question of how to get to the island of Tuzla, is solved simply: from Kerch here goes a small ship.