Rail service has come to a standstill in Crimea

The railway in occupied Crimea remains crucial for Russia’s military logistics, but following the strikes, train traffic on certain sections has been restricted. "Tavria" trains currently run only as far as Kerch, and damage to railroad bridges could paralyze certain routes for a long time.

This is reported by Krym.Realii.

In occupied Crimea, the railway has two main routes. One runs from south to north—from Sevastopol through Dzhankoy, with branches to Krasnoperekopsk and Chongar. The second connects Kerch and Dzhankoy.

According to a military expert from Crimea, a former Ukrainian officer and reserve lieutenant colonel, the railroad is one of the key means of transporting military cargo. In terms of volume, he noted, road and sea transport cannot compete with it.

He explained that maritime transport is cheaper but slower. At the same time, after Ukraine took control of the Black Sea waters, the Russians stopped sending military transports and large landing ships carrying equipment, weapons, and ammunition to Crimea.

Restrictions on train traffic on the Crimean Railway have been in effect since June 2026 following a series of strikes on the peninsula’s railway infrastructure.

The Russian carrier “Grand Service Express” has extended the restrictions on “Tavria” trains through October 5. Trains traveling from Russia and back will run only as far as the Kerch-Yuzhnaya Novy Park station.

Coordinated bus routes have been organized for passengers traveling between Kerch and other stations in Crimea. At the same time, restrictions on passenger service are only part of the problem with the peninsula’s rail connections.

According to an expert, bridges are the most vulnerable to disruptions in rail logistics. They are more difficult and take longer to repair than the railroad tracks or turnouts.

He explained that damaged tracks or switches can be repaired in a few hours using a special repair train. In contrast, restoring a bridge can take months, and rail traffic on that section remains paralyzed.

Ірина Глухова