Russia actively deploys forces to southern front via new railway through Mariup – military

Vladyslav Voshyn, spokesperson of the Ukrainian Southern Defense Forces, said this in comments to Ukrinform.

"They are deploying [personnel and military equipment] both from the Donetsk region and from Russian territory, and they are also transporting through Crimea, as their group 'Dnepr' is stationed in temporarily occupied Crimea. Training centers and preparation facilities for Russian assault tros are mostly located in temporarily occupied Crimea. A certain amount of military equipment and armaments are also being moved from there. Moreover, they are actively using the logistical route – the railway – which was recently built," Voshyn said.

Read also: Occupiers have not captured any positions on southern front over past week – Voshyn

Asked whether Ukrainian forces are targeting these logistical routes, Voshyn noted that strikes are ongoing, but Russia is quickly restoring them.

"We are targeting these logistical routes, but the Russians are restoring them. They understand very well that their success completely depends on the logistics," he said.

In February 2025, Russia launched regular railway service between Rostov-on-Don, Mariup, Vnovakha, and Donetsk. Russian occupiers have develed this railway line to shorten the route for delivering military equipment to the front. The line connects Rostov-on-Don to Mariup and Vnovakha. There are also plans to extend the railway line to Crimea.

Illustrative photo