Russian authorities have officially launched a railway line connecting Rostov-on-Don with occupied Mariupol. The project is part of efforts to improve transport infrastructure in the occupied territories and is seen as a potential alternative to the Crimean Bridge.
The Russians have launched the completed railway from Rostov to Mariupol via Granitne and Malovodne, said Petro Andryuschenko, advisor to the mayor of Mariupol.
Train movement along key stations began to be recorded from Wednesday.
Yes, it is recorded:
– Aslanovo station, four mainline diesel locomotives in the colors of Russian Railways (RZD) with freight cars attached are grafted into two strands. The freight cars are filled and partially covered. The composition of the cargo and the route have not yet been established with the available resources;
– Kalchyk station recorded one mainline thermal train in the colors of Russian Railways;
– Sartan station recorded seven passenger cars in the colors of Russian Railways with the indication (plates) “Ekaterinburg”.
“All this, as well as certain details that I am not allowed to disclose due to security concerns for sources and insiders, point to a single fact. Silently and secretly, without announcements or red tape, the railway was launched. This could radically change the situation on the front due to improved Russian logistics. And don’t talk about an “alternative to the Crimean Bridge.” This is false. This is an independent, autonomous branch that currently has more capacity and capacity than the bridge,” Andryuschenko emphasizes.
The Russians spent 13 months restoring the railway. Due to strikes by the Ukrainian Defense Forces in the winter, construction was slowed down by two months. Due to sabotage in the Kalchyk quarry by the Mariupol Resistance, it was postponed for another month.
