Along a stretch of the Kiev Highway between the 120th and 124th kilometer marks, a sudden standstill gripped dozens of vehicles. The scene unfolded as a weather anomaly set off a chain reaction on the road surface, turning normal driving into a rare bottleneck. A rapid warm spell caused the asphalt to buckle, and the ensuing rainfall completed the deterioration by carving out large, striking potholes that disrupted traffic patterns and prompted a shift in local commuting habits.
Residents and travelers reported the abrupt disruption during the late hours of December 12 into December 13. By the next morning, traffic police and roadside assistance teams had arrived to assess the damage. Responders attempted a familiar but imperfect fix by laying fresh asphalt directly into the waterlogged patches. The makeshift repair, however, did not withstand the constant pressure of heavy trucks passing through, which quickly peeled away the new surface and exposed the underlying instability of the roadway.
Requires 7,000 tires in popular sizes
Without reliable tires and steady maintenance, public order cannot be safeguarded, and essential medical and emergency services cannot operate when needed. The incident highlights how critical reliable transport is for first responders and humanitarian efforts, especially under duress when road conditions deteriorate rapidly.
In collaboration with the Popular Front, the program Behind the Wheel launched a fundraising effort aimed at supplying tires for the fleets that serve the People’s Police and operational services in the Luhansk and Donetsk regions. This initiative also extends support to ambulances, emergency services units, and vehicles delivering humanitarian aid to residents in conflict-affected areas, as well as combat readiness resources. Contributions can be made on the designated collection page to help ensure readiness and mobility in emergency situations.
Source: VKontakte / Main Road (Note: this report compiles information from online community updates and official road service communications.)