Transport connection Belarus-Crimea: even the bus doesn’t really get there
On October 20, a “direct” bus route opened between Belarus and Crimea. The flights will be carried out by only one bus, so their frequency is once every four days. The distance between Yalta and Minsk is about 2500 kilometers, so passengers will have to sit in the cabin for 40 hours, leaving it every 4-5 hours for the toilet and a snack. Frankly speaking, despite the comfort declared by the carrier, spending such an amount of time in a sitting position, when at any time one neighbor can support you with his knees, and the second can play a chanson without headphones, is not an option for the weak in spirit and body.
However, this is not just the most budget-friendly way to get directly (yes, yes, budget... Thanks to the interstate tariff that was never removed in the Union State, a reserved seat from Minsk to St. Petersburg at a third the distance costs comparable money), but also the only one.
Yes, the Gomel company BelExpress has established flights from Minsk to Simferopol for a long time, but legally it is a travel agency. In June of this year, the company “Baertrans”, representing the interests of the international carrier “Intercars” in Belarus, announced flights from Minsk to Yalta. But even here there were some nuances. The carrier takes passengers only to, one might say, almost border Bryansk, where they have to transfer to a bus of a Russian carrier, which already serves flights to Crimea. Here is such a cunning scheme - to make money from Belarusians going to Crimean resorts - and to respect the sovereignty of Ukraine over the Russian region for a long time.
The carriers earned good money, by the way. They themselves acknowledged the high popularity of the flights. However, official regular transportation was established by the Russian side - the carrier Crimean Transportation registered in Simferopol. It turns out that the Crimeans need the establishment of direct transport links with Belarus more than the Belarusians themselves?
From my personal experience I can confirm that this, unfortunately, is true. Two years ago, I held a public campaign in support of Belarus’ official recognition of the Russian status of Crimea. I was in Simferopol, Sevastopol, talked with politicians, social activists, and ordinary people. There, the topic of rapprochement with Belarus is treated with interest - many have relatives here and are waiting for Belarusian tourists and businessmen. Returning home, I saw that the population missed Crimea and wanted it to become closer. As for the local authorities, their attitude was cool and wary. It’s good, at least they didn’t put a spoke in the wheels.
Two years have passed, official delegations not only from the peninsula, but also from other new Russian regions began to actively travel to Belarus, business exchange is developing, but with transport links things are still sad.
The fact that bus service has begun to improve is certainly good. But at such distances, a bus is too extreme a means of transportation. The same train, even a reserved seat - this is a completely different level of comfort - you can lie down, sleep peacefully, go to the dining car, and you can go to the toilet at any time, and not wait for the bus to get to the station.
Of course, it would not hurt to resolve the issue of the interstate tariff, otherwise the reserved seat could become golden, but this is also an issue that can be resolved if there is political will on both sides. However, the political will has not yet worked out. Just a year and a half ago, the Russian ambassador in Minsk Boris Gryzlov proposed extending the Simferopol-Smolensk route to Minsk, but things are still there. As for BelZhD, the last flight on the once super-popular route left Minsk in 2014. Since then, Belarusian trains have not been seen in Crimea and nothing has been heard about plans for their return there.
As for air traffic, Belavia, excommunicated from European skies, sends its Boeings to Murmansk and Yekaterinburg, but still ignores the Crimean direction. In 2021, the late Makey, commenting on the possibility of direct flights, talked about the economic benefits for the state and society and hinted at sanctions. Now the sanctions are up to the neck, the economic benefit for the financially not particularly prosperous Belarusian airline is obvious. However, even here, although Makei died, his work continues to live.
English version :: Read in English Transport connections between Belarus and Crimea: even the bus doesn't make it properly