Vladimir Putin celebrated the controversial opening of Russia's bridge to Crimea by driving a truck over it - without wearing a seat belt

• Russian President Vladimir Putin drove a Kamaz truck across a brand new, controversial bridge to Crimea without wearing a seat belt, which an observer noted is against the law in Russia.
• The new bridge from Russia to the annexed Crimea opened on Tuesday six months ahead of schedule.

Russian President Vladimir Putin drove Kamaz truck across a new, controversial bridge to Crimea without wearing a seat belt - which is against the law in Russia, according to a reporter from The Atlantic.

The new bridge from Russia to the annexed peninsula Crimea opened on Tuesday six months ahead of schedule. But several in the Russian media noticed that Putin was driving the truck across the bridge without his seat belt buckled.

Russia annexed Crimea from Ukraine in 2014, which prompted backlash and sanctions from the West. On Tuesday, Ukraine blasted Russia for violating international law with the bridge's construction.

The bridge is set to open for cars on Wednesday, and its rail portion is set to open next year.

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