Instead of the Crimean Bridge: Russians want to build a new logistics route through Mariupol

The Russians want to build an alternative to the Crimean Bridge – a railway through Mariupol / Collage 24 Channel / (photo from a telegram from Peter Andryushchenko and Getty Images)

The Russians want to build a new railway connection through the temporarily occupied Mariupol. The invaders use the railway to move equipment and the occupying army, so the railway is a primary strategic objective for the enemy.

The railway network of the occupied territory has become quite vulnerable due to sabotage and attacks from the Ukrainian side. Deputy of the Mariupol City Council Dmitry Zabavin told Channel 24 whether the message could become a logistics alternative for supplying weapons to the front of the invaders.

Will the Russians be able to meet their needs at the front?

As Zabavin explained, the project is now at the design stage. The occupiers are actively looking for an alternative to the Crimean Bridge. Therefore, the railway should connect Russia with Crimea via a land corridor. According to preliminary data, the route should run from Rostov through Mariupol – Berdyansk and further to Crimea.

The Russians really intend to build this. But taking into account the fact that the entire territory of the Mariupol, Volnovakha, Novoazovsky districts is in the zone of influence of Ukrainian “cotton”. That is, this logistics area has the ability to be shot through,” noted a deputy of the Mariupol City Council.

The occupiers are unlikely to be able to meet their needs on the battlefield in this way. At the same time, the enemy has no other option, because the route through Novoazovsk – Mariupol – Berdyansk does not allow him to achieve all his goals for the transfer of weapons. Therefore, the enemy needs another railway connection through Mariupol. Let's assume it won't be successful in the end.

What Russians say

And the occupiers believe that the railway connection from Akimovka to Rostov through Berdyansk and Mariupol will make it possible to protect traffic from shelling by the Defense Forces. Gauleiter of the Zaporozhye region Evgeny Balitsky said that construction of the railway has already begun.

The second project, the construction of which has already begun on the Donetsk side, is a railway that will run from Akimovka to Rostov through Berdyansk and Mariupol. The project has already started. Akimovka is located below Melitopol in the southwest, this is exactly the railway junction from which construction will take place,” Balitsky said.

The Russians hope to build at least one railway line to resolve the military issue.

“And, most importantly, the issue of exporting grain to the continent, exporting iron ore, scrap metal, coal and many elements that we need to connect with the mainland today are being resolved. Because driving across the Crimean Bridge is not only far away, but today the bridge is an object of increased danger,” added the Gauleiter of Zaporozhye.

Russians are building new communication routes: what is known

• Advisor to the mayor of Mariupol Pyotr Andryushchenko said that the Russians are trying to build a direct railway connection with Mariupol, Volnovakha and Donetsk. Railway connection from Volonovakha: to the west goes through Rozovka Melitopol to Crimea; to the north – Donetsk.
• Andryushchenko explained that this is not only a global solution to the issue of military and civil logistics, but also a radical reduction in dependence on rail traffic via the Kerch Bridge.
• The occupiers also began construction of a railway bridge near the village of Granitnoye across the Kalmius River. The Russians are restoring the old branch that worked before the full-scale invasion.