Russia opens railway in Mariupol, shortening logistics route by almost 300 km

“So far, we have seen diesel locomotives entering and leaving Russia. It was not clear until yesterday after we saw the railway station in Mariupol was reopened after it was completely destroyed. Only one diesel train with two cars Mariupol - Volnovakha for civilians was announced,” he said.

It means that the railroad is open again, the engineering work is completed, and it is connected. It is also confirmed that they will use no civilian railroad.

“There is some reason why the Russians have not yet launched a freight train, but they will definitely launch it, at least everything is technically ready. When this happens, it will solve the logistics issue for the Russians very dramatically, especially considering Kurakhove and Volnovakha, which are minus almost 300 kilometers of track. In terms of time... they will save from a day to a week, this is a pretty strong solution, in fact, a logistical breakthrough,” Andriushchenko added.

According to him, the Russians have overcome their dependence on the Crimean Bridge by building an alternative way to supply their group in southern Ukraine.

“And this is a very bad story, no matter how to see it,” the official added.

Railroad construction in Mariupol

Russian troops occupied Mariupol in February 2022 as part of Russia's large-scale invasion of Ukraine.

In September 2023, it was reported that the Russians were building a direct railroad connection to Mariupol, Volnovakha, and Donetsk. They had already begun to build a railroad bridge near the village of Hranit across the Kalmius River.

At the time, Andriushchenko said that it would allow the existing Mariupol-Aslanovo-Kalchyk-Volnovakha branch to be connected directly to Taganrog and Rostov-on-Don.

In March 2024, the head of the Defense Intelligence, Kyrylo Budanov, said that this railroad could pose a problem for Ukraine.