Ukrainian officials predict timeline for restoring full transport links in southern Odesa Oblast

Andrii Muravskyi - 20 December, 15:37

A roadside sign shows the name of the village Mayaki. Photo: Ministry for Communities and Territories Development

Ukraine's Agency for Restoration has said it is working with all relevant parties to restore full transport links in southern Odesa Oblast in the coming days, adding that building additional temporary traffic structures could take about two and a half months.

Source: Serhii Sukhomlyn, Head of the Agency for Restoration, in an interview with Ukrainian public broadcaster Suspilne

Quote: "Engineers are considering 2-3 options and the construction of new structures is expected to take about two and a half months. But the main task is to restore transport links in full in the coming days."

Details: Sukhomlyn added that there are currently no major problems with supplies of medicines or food in either part of Odesa Oblast and that officials are working through options for the temporary movement of freight to support deliveries of petroleum products and other essential products to the south of the oblast.

Sukhomlyn said work to deal with the aftermath of the latest Russian strikes has begun, involving all relevant parties, in particular the leadership of the oblast military administration and central government bodies, including Deputy Prime Minister Oleksii Kuleba.

Quote: "Logistics in southern Odesa Oblast have been secured. There are currently no major issues with the supply of medicine and food in either part of the oblast. Deliveries are continuing."

More details: Sukhomlyn added that the extent of damage to the bridge is being assessed with an expert institute for bridge structures, with load-bearing elements checked to determine how and when repairs can be carried out.

He said alternative routes are being considered to keep transport links running, including the option of building temporary structures.

Background:

Since 08:00 on 19 December, the bridge on the M-15 Odesa-Reni road (towards Bucharest) in the village of Maiaky, Odesa Oblast, has been closed to traffic.
The M-15 Odesa-Reni motorway has been closed to freight traffic to deal with the aftermath of Russian strikes on Odesa Oblast.
Because traffic on the Odesa-Reni roadway has been suspended, the State Customs Service has advised people to cross into Moldova via the Mamalyha-Criva and Sokyriany-Ocniţa checkpoints for freight and the Bronnytsia-Unguri, Vashkivtsi-Grimăncăuți, Rososhany-Briceni and Kelmentsi-Larga checkpoints for passengers.
On the night of 18-19 December, Russian forces once again attacked the city of Odesa, injuring one person and leaving part of the city temporarily without water, heating and electricity.
It was reported earlier that a Russian attack drone hit a civilian vehicle that was driving across a bridge in the Odesa district, killing a mother and injuring three children.

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