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Ukraine may fully stop railroad communication with Russia

The passenger flow with Russiais dying out - last year, it decreased by another 20%, Ukrainian Minister for Infrastructure Vladimir Omelyan said

KIEV, February 6. /TASS/. Ukraine may fully stop railroad communication with Russia without waiting for the decision of the central executive authorities, Ukrainian Minister for Infrastructure Vladimir Omelyan said on Wednesday, commenting on the decision made by Ukrainian Railways to reduce the number of rail runs to Russia.

"The passenger flow [with Russia] is dying out: in 2018, it decreased by another 20%. I would like the decision to be taken at the state level [to abolish rail runs,] but if it does not happen, then it will happen objectively," he told journalists.

Last Tuesday Ukrainian Railways stated a reduction in the frequency of passenger trains going to Russia from Odessa and Kharkov. So, since February 5 trains number 24/23 Odessa - Moscow - Odessa and number 20/19 Kharkov - Moscow - Kharkov run once in two days instead of daily runs.

Still, according to the company, runs from Kiev to Moscow remain in demand and the schedule will not change. There are currently two trains running between the capitals daily, and all tickets for them are sold out.

In 2018, direct trains and trailer cars coming to Russia from Ivano-Frankovsk, Chernovtsy, Kremenchug and Chernigov were cancelled.

A considerable growth of bus runs between Russian and Ukrainian cities was marked last year. A bus trip costs twice as cheap as a train trip.

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