“In 2026, we plan to provide direct suburban railway service between Rostov oblast and our region. At the initial stage, the route will operate to the Ilovaisk station with the further prospect of extending it to the Donetsk station”, - the “minister of transport” of the so-called “republic” Alexander Bondarenko told local journalists. In addition, he confirmed that there are allegedly plans to organize direct non-stop railway service along the route Donetsk–Luhansk–Voronezh. However, this project will be implemented no earlier than 2028.
The promised non-stop connection between Donetsk and Mariupol has also not yet been launched. According to the “minister,” the opening of this route “is expected in the near future”.