Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev has signed an order authorizing construction of a railroad detour circumventing Ukrainian territory and passing through southern Russia.
The new railroad would connect the Russian towns of Zhuravka in the Voronezh region and Millerovo in the Rostov region, according to a document published on the government's website Monday. Currently, the railroad between the two towns takes a more direct route, cutting through Ukraine's territory, according to the document.
The order comes amid rapidly deteriorating relations between Moscow and Kiev over Russia's annexation of Crimea and support of separatist rebels in eastern Ukraine.
Kiev imposed new sanctions this month, barring Russian airlines from flying over Ukrainian territory. The restrictions, which target most of Russia's largest air carriers — including Aeroflot, S7 Airlines, Transaero, VIM Airlines, Rossiya, Ural Airlines and Orenair — extend flight times to popular destinations and could cost Russia tens of millions of dollars, the TASS news agency reported earlier.
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