Russia plans to build 500-km military railway in 2024 

Defense Express writes about this. 

Recently highlighted on Twitter, the Russian project aims to connect the temporarily occupied Melitopol and Mariupol directly through Berdyansk, extending further to the Russian Taganrog. The unique aspect of this plan is the intention to complete the railway by 2024, with a significant portion running along the occupied coast of the Sea of Azov.

The primary goal is to establish an alternative route to both the Crimean Bridge and the existing corridor from occupied Donbass to Crimea. According to Polish officer Maciej Korowaj, the Russians plan to build a dual-track mainline to provide substantial capacity, specifically supporting Russian occupying forces.

Notably, the railway will operate on diesel traction, possibly to minimize the impact of potential strikes by the Ukrainian Armed Forces. However, it's worth considering whether Russia lacks the power to support the railway's systems.

Defense Express raises doubts about the feasibility of constructing a 500-kilometer railway within the proposed timeline, emphasizing that Russia has not previously undertaken such large-scale "military-field" railway projects. There's speculation that the construction process might be expedited by using a railway with "lighter" characteristics, imposing restrictions on train speed and cargo weight.

The railway, rather than the Crimean Bridge, could become the primary target for long-range strikes by the Ukrainian Armed Forces in 2024. The strategic location along the Sea of Azov coast adds to the significance of this potential target.