Pro-Moscow officials announced that starting July 1, train and bus lines will connect Russia’s annexed Crimea to the newly occupied areas of southern Ukraine.
This is the first time since Moscow annexed Crimea in 2014 and interregional transport was suspended.
The self-proclaimed interior ministry of the Kherson region, which has been occupied by Russian troops since March, said in a statement that buses will connect the Crimean capital, Simferopol, with the city of Kherson twice a day.
A link will also be established between Simferopol and the occupied cities of Melitopol and Berdiansk, partly controlled by the Russian army, in the Zaporizhzhia region of Ukraine.
The ministry also announced that a railway line will be established between the Crimean city of Dzhankoi and Kherson and Melitopol.
“Rosgvardia (Russian National Guard) will ensure transportation security,” the statement said.
Since the seizure of territories in southern Ukraine, Moscow has followed a Russian policy: the ruble is used as its currency, Russian passports are distributed, and critical voices are suppressed.
Ukraine’s elected mayor of Kherson, Igor Kolijayev, who was overthrown by Russian forces in April, was arrested on Tuesday.
The new pro-Moscow local authorities are calling for a referendum on the region’s connection with Russia.
source: Noticias
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