Ukrainian resistance complicates Russian railway plans in Mariupol
Ukrainian partisans are effectively hindering the Russians from implementing plans to start railway connections from Mariupol to Moscow, St. Petersburg, and Crimea. As reported by the Mariupol city council, sabotage activities are preventing the Russian occupation authorities from carrying out these plans.
Russian Deputy Prime Minister Marat Khusnullin admitted that Ukrainian partisans and the Ukrainian army pose a significant obstacle to the start of railway connections.
We have rebuilt part of the railway lines. We are, for example, ready to send passenger trains to Crimea, Moscow, and St. Petersburg. But the only problem is that the enemy constantly tries to blow up the tracks and commit acts of sabotage. Therefore, for safety reasons, we have not yet started passenger traffic. But everything is already ready. This includes the fully renovated Russian Railways train station in Mariupol," Khusnullin said in an interview with "Izvestia."
Plans for rebuilding infrastructure
Khusnullin added that following the reconstruction of road and rail routes, the development of port infrastructure is planned. However, he emphasised that in this case too, the actions of the Armed Forces of Ukraine pose a challenge. Nevertheless, the Russian authorities have plans to rebuild all port facilities and increase cargo turnover.
Mariupol, a city on the Sea of Azov, was besieged by Russian troops in February 2022 and captured in May of the same year after three months of intense fighting. The city was almost completely destroyed, and the number of siege victims is estimated to be at least 22,000 people.
