Russia has launched a new railway service connecting Rostov-on-Don with the occupied Ukrainian cities of Mariupol, Volnovakha, and Donetsk, according to a report from Mariupol’s City Council on February 20.
The expansion is set to strengthen Russia’s military supply routes, with plans to further extend the line to Crimea.
Railway Built for Military Transport
The Center for Occupation Studies stated that Russian forces built the railway branch to speed up the transportation of military equipment from Rostov-on-Don to occupied Mariupol and Volnovakha.
By expanding these railway links, Russia aims to reduce its reliance on the Crimean Bridge, which has been repeatedly targeted by Ukrainian attacks.
Despite sabotage efforts by Ukrainian partisans, Russian forces continue expanding the railway infrastructure, reinforcing their hold on southern and eastern Ukraine.
This latest railway expansion follows Russia’s earlier success in establishing a direct railway link between Mariupol and Moscow in May 2024. The 80-kilometer railway was built to bypass the Crimean Bridge, improving logistics for Russian occupation forces in the region.
Ukrainian forces continue targeting Russian supply lines.
Recently, the Ukrainian Armed Forces destroyed a Russian train carrying 40 fuel tankers in the occupied Zaporizhzhia region, temporarily cutting off a key Russian military supply route.
