President Vladimir Putin announced progress on a railway project linking Rostov-on-Don with Donetsk, Mariupol and Berdyansk, framing the update within a festive event on Red Square that celebrated the tenth anniversary of Crimea’s reunification with Russia. The announcement was shared by state media outlet TASS, which noted the setting as part of the commemorative celebration.
According to the president, the railway connection to these ports has been restored, and he described ongoing efforts to extend service further. He indicated that trains would soon run directly to Sevastopol, signaling an expanded transport corridor that would serve multiple regions. The leader characterized the route as an additional option alongside existing infrastructure and emphasized that the project would help maintain a steady, cooperative pace for regional development.
Putin underscored that the work on the railway would continue, stressing a joint forward movement and cooperation among the regions involved. He framed the project as a practical means to improve mobility and economic links, suggesting that the new routes would support broader connectivity and logistical resilience across the area.
At the event, attendees expressed strong support, with the crowd loudly voicing solidarity. Their reactions reflected the ceremonial tone of the occasion and the significance attributed to the transportation initiative within the broader narrative of regional integration.
Earlier, Evgeniy Balitsky, the head of the Zaporozhye region, stated in November that construction had begun on a railway connecting Rostov-on-Don with Crimea and passing through the territories of the DPR and the Zaporozhye region. The announcement highlighted the ambition to create a continuous transport line that would traverse several administrative regions and connect key coastal hubs.
In related security developments, law enforcement reported that two Berdyansk residents had been detained in connection with sabotage activities on the railway network. The incidents were described as part of ongoing concerns about disruptions to critical infrastructure in the region, and authorities indicated that investigations into the incidents would continue as part of a broader effort to safeguard transportation routes and economic activity.