Replacement of the Crimean Bridge: How to slow down the construction of railway connection for the Russian army in southeast of Ukraine

The West calls on Kiev to pay attention to the railway from Melitopol to Rostov. The connection of the occupied regions with Russia must be interrupted to the projected offensive of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation. Otherwise, there will be serious problems in the southeast, say military analysts surveyed by focus. Frequent strikes and drones forced the Russians to reduce the transportation of military equipment, weapons and other goods for army supply by the Crimean bridge.

The results of the attack on the structure on July 17, 2023 by drones, undermining the roadway and railway (s/d) lines showed that it is best to focus on land routes through the temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine, writes the British newspaper The Independent. The forces of Ukraine's defense should focus on the railroad logistics of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation in Melitopol, Berdyansk and Mariupol.

Through these cities, new ways are laid to communicate in the occupied Ukrainian regions with Crimea and mainland. The cessation of the Kerch Bridge to replenish the reserves of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation coincided with a sharp increase in cargo transportation through Taman in the Rostov region, says Molfar OSint-Agency founder Artem Starosek. The new railway line from Yakimivka village, near Melitopol, extends to Berdyansk, Mariupol and reaches the Russian city of Rostov.

Probably, Russian troops will use it during a new offensive that is expected in the summer, experts say. Oldrosk suggested that Ukraine could aim these land routes rather than spending resources on the Crimean bridge. Western assistance should allow the Armed Forces to strike at these active points. Satellite images of the Molfar Agency show that no train with military equipment has been held in the last three months. Only on February 29, 2024 was one train with 55 fuel wagons.

According to Vasyl Malyuk, the head of the SBU, up to 46 weapons were passed every day, and now four passenger and one commodity train per day. The reduction in the use of the Kerch Bridge to replenish the reserves of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation coincided with a sharp increase in freight transportation through Taman in the Rostov region, says Artem Starosek. Do not forget about the importance of rail connection along the northern coast of the Azov Sea.

The Russians have chosen a safe route for Berdyansk railway connection with Melitopol: they do not fit to Tokmak and do not hit the Armed Forces. The full implementation of the idea will make Moscow spend, but the resources will be found, the former speaker of the Armed Forces General Staff, military expert Vladislav Seleznev.

In the case of a full launch of railway routes in temporarily occupied territories, Ukraine will receive a lot of trouble, as the Russian Federation will strengthen the line of supply of its contingent in the south of Zaporizhzhya and occupied part of the Kherson regions, he explains the focus. Advisor to the mayor Mariupol Petro Andryushchenko reported on May 2, the launch of the first train from the Mariupol Port to the Volnovakha station.

The port saw a batch of concrete fortifications for the construction of fortifications. "The Russians are being built, they need to create an uninterrupted and protected railway network to increase military resources," Seleznyov notes. Another important aspect of the supply of Russia's army is a ferry crossing through the Kerch Strait. From Tamani military goods are taken to Kerch ferries, and then taken on trains to Dzhankoy, summed up the analyst.

The transportation of equipment, ammunition and other goods for the invaders of the Kerch Bridge railway is still ongoing, says military observer Alexander Kovalenko. Trains regularly arrive to Kerch, and Crimean monitoring channels are constantly fixed and reported. The tanks are delivered fuel and lubricants, and the passenger cars are personnel. Crimea has long turned into a transit and logistics knot, which will not be replaced by any road through Mariupol and Berdyansk, the expert says.

"No new logistics branch will be able to provide completely in the 24/7 mode of the southern grouping of Russian occupation troops with nearly 200 thousand people," Kovalenko emphasizes. We will remind, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Russia on May 3 threatened with a "devastating blow of retribution" for attack on the Crimean bridge. The Russian Office focused on future supply to Ukraine F-16 fighters, which can be used to strike.