Despite the interruption of certain air or rail links, Russia is not cut off from the world
Passengers disembark the penultimate train from St. Petersburg, Russia, at Helsinki station on Sunday, March 27, 2022. AP - Seppo Samuli
Text by: Anissa El Jabri Follow
3 mins
Direct air links between the United States, the European Union and Switzerland were already over.
On Sunday March 27, the last railway line still active between Russia and the EU also stopped: the Allegro train between the central station of the Finnish capital Helsinki and Saint Petersburg made its last journey.
But some countries maintain direct links with Russia.
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From our correspondent in Moscow
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Twelve years after the train's maiden voyage between Helsinki and Saint Petersburg with Vladimir Putin on board, this symbol of renewal for Euro-Russian relations is ending.
During the Cold War, a night train even continued to run through the Iron Curtain between Helsinki and Russia.
It is to say if this interruption weighs heavy.
As the land border posts are still open, you can still take this route by bus or car.
But now you have to agree to spend hours there.
The same goes for airlines.
Direct links maintained
But for those who want to go to the United States and the European Union, you have to go through all the many countries that have maintained direct links with Russia: on the European continent, Serbia.
Moscow is only 3 hours flight from Belgrade;
all of Central Asia, with which the country maintains a visa-free travel regime.
Asia for that matter: India, China, but also these holiday destinations very popular with Russians such as Vietnam and Thailand.
Other usual and direct links maintained with Azerbaijan, Armenia, but also Turkey.
In these last three countries, moreover, many Russians have settled there.
Meet those who disagree with the “special operation”, as the Kremlin puts it, and who are fleeing the country, but also, singularly discreet, those who set up their businesses in relative proximity to Moscow or Saint Petersburg.
They want to continue to operate while escaping Western sanctions.
Finally, there is - be careful, the list is not exhaustive of course - relatively close tourist destinations popular with Russians, Dubai, several cities in Egypt;
Israel is also served by direct flights between Moscow and Tel Aviv.
More expensive tickets
Many airports in southern Russia have seen their operation suspended for civil aviation.
Planes between Yerevan and Moscow no longer fly over this area.
As a result, the three-hour journey can go up to almost four hours.
More time, more kerosene spent and in the end it obviously affects the price of the ticket.
On the other hand, on all direct routes, Russian airlines have already started planning more flights.
And above all, in Sochi in the south of the country, a vast reprogramming operation is underway and the city could become a new pivot from April 7.
Aeroflot announces direct flights to Israel and Egypt.
The idea would be to quickly serve also Kazakhstan, Turkey, Egypt, Iran, Uzbekistan, Azerbaijan, Armenia, Kyrgyzstan.
A way also with these links on average equivalent to medium haul to use Russian planes which are not under Western sanctions.
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