Tough Times In Russian-Held Crimea

Reuters: Promised prosperity never arrived in Russian-held Crimea, locals say

More than two years after Russia annexed Crimea and promised its 2 million people a better life, residents say prices have soared, wages and pensions have stagnated and tourists have fled.

The sunny and mountainous Black Sea peninsula is back in the news, with Russian President Vladimir Putin accusing Kiev of sending infiltrators across the border to wreck its industry. But locals say the damage has already been done by Moscow's neglect.

"We joined Russia and they stopped giving a damn about us," Yevgeny, a worker at a titanium plant in the town of Armyansk told Reuters.

"People are naive. They thought that if we were part of Russia, everything would be Russian. Prices have now jumped to the Russian level, but wages have stayed the same. That's the main problem."

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WNU Editor: It is rough to live in Crimea right now .... no doubt about it. I have a friend who lives there and he has been telling me the same thing for the past two years .... not enough work, wages are low, the tourists have disappeared, and prices are sky-high. But when I ask him if he wants to rejoin Ukraine .... considering what has happened in the past two years, the ongoing war in the east, and Ukraine's continuing economic crisis and anti-Russian measures .... my friend and most Crimeans (who are Russian speaking) cringe at such a prospect.