Ukraine's Foreign Minister Says Trains to ORDLO May Resume
After the bridges are repaired, authorities may restore rail service in Donbas.
Ukrainian Foreign Minister Vadym Prystaiko said that rail links with the Donbas areas outside Kyiv's control could be resumed.
Speaking about the restoration of the bridge in Stanytsia Luhanska on the air of the show "Freedom of Speech with Savik Shuster", Prystaiko assured that in a month or a month and a half, cars would already be able to drive across this bridge.
“This bridge will be ready, and it will be ready for vehicle traffic as soon as the concrete dries. I think it will take about a month and a half, — the minister noted. — You have seen that the necessary footbridge has already been built, which people can now use to cross safely from one side to the other. After that, the bridge will be restored.”
Then, according to Prystaiko, other bridges will also be restored, and trains may start running again.
“After that there will be the next bridges and the next crossing points, and perhaps rail service will also resume so that people can travel more comfortably. These are the first steps we are taking. Sorry that we are taking them so slowly”, said Prystaiko.
On Saturday, October 5, the Office of the President of Ukraine reported that restoration work is continuing on the bridge near Stanytsia Luhanska. In particular, a temporary bypass crossing was opened there: it had been planned for completion by October 11, but the work was finished earlier.
The old structures of the destroyed crossing are now being dismantled. A road surface has been laid on the approach to the bridge, and markings are being applied.
The work on the crossing is expected to be completed by November 15.
On June 12, the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine approved the strategy of JSC Ukrzaliznytsia for 2019–2023. According to information from Liga.Business, the strategy considers the possibility of restoring rail service suspended in March 2017 with the Donetsk and Luhansk regions.
Earlier, Foreign Minister Vadym Prystaiko said that no changes will be made to the Ukrainian Constitution regarding a special status for Donbas.
Prystaiko also said that a large-scale prisoner exchange between Ukraine and Russia could take place as early as next week.
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