Russian invaders extend road between Novoazovsk and Mariupol, preparing it for railway track

Andryushchenko, an advisor to the mayor of Mariupol, stated it on Espreso TV channel.

The official reported that Russian forces are constructing a 50-kilometer-long section of infrastructure. This section is intended to intersect with the current Mariupol-Volnovakha route, then proceed through Donetsk, connecting Volnovakha to Rozivka and, eventually, to Melitopol and Crimea.

"This means they're targeting the only existing route, and we can't assess how far along they are in constructing this bridge. We're uncertain about their commitment to safeguarding this project. Based on our information, it appears that they haven't completed the entire railway track they're attempting to establish," Andryushchenko explained.

He also pointed out that recent images published by Radio Svoboda show the expansion of the route connecting Rostov-on-Don and Mariupol. 

“It seems likely that this new road will serve as a foundation for laying a railway line directly between Rostov and Mariupol. Furthermore, there are plans to extend this railway branch along the coast to Mariupol and Berdyansk. The exact extent of their progress and future plans remains uncertain, as they won't have sufficient time this year to begin construction on another railway branch between Mariupol and Rostov,” he said. 

However, the advisor highlighted that the occupation authorities' intentions and actions suggest that they intend to utilize the existing road as a primary highway. They are expanding and elevating its significance beyond its current status. As for the new road being constructed across the fields, it appears to be the groundwork for the upcoming railway track.

• Previously, Petro Andryushchenko pointed out that the Russians were using concrete slabs, primarily transported from the port of Sevastopol, to construct fortifications in the temporarily occupied Mariupol.
• On October 2, it was reported that Planet.com had compared satellite images from October 2023 and October 2022, revealing Russia's construction of a road from Rostov-on-Don to the temporarily occupied Mariupol.