In occupied Crimea, intercity bus fares have more than doubled

In the temporarily occupied Crimea, ticket prices for certain intercity bus routes more than doubled during the second ten days of July. According to local residents, this increase came as a surprise amid fuel shortages and power outages.

This was reported by “Krym.Realii,” citing an activist from Simferopol who agreed to speak on condition of anonymity.

He said that residents of the peninsula who rely on intercity transportation daily to commute to work, visit medical facilities, or travel to see relatives have faced a sharp increase in fares.

In particular, the cost of a ticket on the Simferopol–Belogorsk bus route has risen from 150 to over 300 rubles. The activist notes that this has particularly affected residents of Belogorsk, many of whom work in Simferopol.

According to him, officials at the “Skhidna” bus station in Simferopol attributed the price hike to a more than twofold increase in fuel costs in occupied Crimea.

In addition, due to prolonged power outages, ticket clerks often have to issue tickets by hand, which leads to long lines. Payment terminals also stop working during power outages, so passengers have to pay in cash.

The activist also claims that the number of trips has not changed significantly, but the occupancy rate of the buses has increased considerably. According to him, tickets forso-called “standing room” have begun to be sold on suburban routes.

Meanwhile, the Russian-controlled “Crimean Ministry of Transport” stated that the fare increase for intercity bus service has been approved by the leadership. They reported changes in fare regulations that provide for the introduction of unregulated fares for intercity routes, while urban and suburban transportation remains regulated.

Андрій Колісніченко