Russian officials are evaluating a potential railway link to Crimea via recently designated regions, a project still in the design stage. During Transport Week in Moscow, Deputy Prime Minister Marat Khusnullin disclosed this possibility to reporters, describing it as a formal concept under consideration rather than a final decision. He noted that the traditional route to Crimea traces back to the Soviet era and would pass through areas labeled as new lands. Some sections of this proposed corridor would remain at a safe distance from the contact line, while other stretches would lie closer to it, raising practical and security considerations that must be addressed before any construction decisions are made.
Khusnullin stressed that no concrete decision has been reached yet, stressing that work is underway to evaluate this option in the new regions. He described the initiative as an alternative pathway to support transport needs, but emphasized that it remains at the design level as officials weigh its viability against existing infrastructure projects.
On November 7, Sergei Aksenov, head of Crimea, indicated that the new railway would run from Rostov-on-Don to the peninsula via the Donetsk and Lugansk regions, the Zaporozhye region, and Kherson region. He framed the route as an alternative to the Crimean Bridge, underscoring its potential role in diversifying access to Crimea while acknowledging that it would require careful planning and cross-border coordination among several territories with evolving administrative statuses.
Evgeniy Balitsky, the former president of the Zaporozhye region, commented on the prospect of beginning construction of the Rostov-to-Crimea railway, signaling continued discussion at regional leadership levels about how such a project could be staged, financed, and integrated with existing transportation networks. The dialogue around this corridor reflects broader strategic questions about regional connectivity, security implications, and the capacity to manage complex, multi-regional construction efforts under shifting geopolitical conditions.