You're reading: Sokolov says regular rail services bypassing Ukraine may open as early as this year

Regular services via the new railroad bypassing Ukraine may be launched as early as this year, Russian Transport Minister Maxim Sokolov told reporters in Nizhny Novgorod on August 8.

“This year,” Sokolov said when asked when to expect the launch of regular rail services via the new railroad.

Media earlier reported citing an informed source that the railroad built in Russia’s Rostov region and Voronezh region to bypass the Ukrainian territory had been put into operation.

The Zhuravka-Millerovo stretch located in the territory of Rostov and Voronezh regions has connected Russian regions via rail communications bypassing Ukraine and made it unnecessary for trains to cross the state border. Russia decided in 2015 to build rail infrastructure for trains going from Russia’s central parts to southern regions to bypass the Ukrainian territory.