A few years ago, the Lugansk-Simferopol route was one of the few that connected Ukraine and the Crimea peninsula. After the conflict between Russia and Ukraine arose, he practically ceased to exist, leaving behind him good memories of peaceful life.
Lugansk
The route "Lugansk-Simferopol" begins in the eastern part of Ukraine. Lugansk was founded in 1795 and is one of the largest cities in Ukraine. About 440 thousand people live here, their number is constantly growing. Since April 2014, the city has been the capital of the Lugansk People’s Republic, a self-proclaimed political unit seeking to secede from Ukraine.
It is here that a large number of enterprises associated with the metallurgical industry are located. It also produces knitwear, shoes, clothes, and the woodworking and pharmaceutical industries are actively developing. Lugansk has huge economic and social potential, due to this, it has always been one of the most popular cities among investors in Ukraine and other countries.
Simferopol
The final point of the route "Lugansk-Simferopol" is located on the territory of the Crimean peninsula, which until 2014 belonged to Ukraine. After the coup in Kiev, the inhabitants of the peninsula held a referendum and asked to join the Russian Federation, the Ukrainian authorities opposed this accession. Not only Ukraine, but also many European countries refused to recognize the annexation of Crimea to Russia .
The city itself has a rich history, it was here that at one time there was an ancient antique city, the ruins of which are very popular among tourists. Residents of Russia and other countries gladly go on vacation to Simferopol and Crimea, because here you can get high-quality service at fairly low and affordable prices.
A train
Now many are interested in whether the Lugansk-Simferopol train runs or not. In fact, there is no direct communication between the two cities now, the only option you can use will require a transfer. You can take the train number 342, which follows from Simferopol to the station Yasinovataya, passing through Donetsk. Next, you will have to transfer by bus or minibus to get to Lugansk.
Earlier, the Simferopol-Lugansk train route ran through Melitopol, Dzhankoy, Fedorovka, Donetsk. It is still unknown when exactly the train will be restored and how it will run in the future. So far, residents of the mainland and peninsula are trying to find various ways to get from one city to another.
Is it possible to get on the bus?
The only means with which you can drive along the Lugansk-Simferopol route is a bus that continues to run between the two cities. There are two options that you can use: one - directly (travel time is about 13 hours), and the second - bypass (the bus passes the Kerch crossing, due to this, the travel time increases by almost 10 hours).
There is a difference in price. If you go through Kerch, you will have to pay 2600 rubles for the ticket, and if you use the shorter option - 2100. However, there is no alternative until the Lugansk-Simferopol train runs. That is why buses departing on this route twice a week are always clogged with passengers who want to reach their destination.
Or maybe go by car?
You can also take the Lugansk-Simferopol route on your own car. There may also be several options. If you plan to travel through Ukraine, you will have to overcome approximately 700 kilometers and spend about 10-11 hours on it. On your way there will be settlements Debaltseve, Enakievo, Mariupol, Dzhankoy. Please note that in some sections of the track is in poor condition, try to prepare your vehicle for this.
You can go on a different route - through the territory of Russia. You can go from Lugansk to Molodogvardeisk and Krasnodon, after some time you will find yourself in Kamensk-Shakhtinsky. From there, you will need to head to Rostov-on-Don, then drive through Krasnodar and Krymsk to the port of Kerch, where you need to overcome the crossing. Such a route will be much longer, so decide for yourself in advance whether you can spend extra time on the road or not.
Other options
Direct flights on this route, as well as the Lugansk-Simferopol train, do not exist, so they cannot be used. There is another option: a large number of vehicles that travel agencies offer. In their opinion, two flights on this route are not enough, so at least one more flight connects two cities daily, additional flights are appointed on holidays or during the holiday season.
The fare in such buses is not much higher, so the demand for them remains stably high. In addition, tourist buses have additional benefits, such as dry closets and televisions. Consider this when choosing a vehicle for the trip. It will be nice if you check with local travel agents in advance for flights, this will save you time.
Conclusion
It will be very difficult to get from Lugansk to Simferopol until the political situation between Russia and Ukraine is stabilized. However, options still exist, and you can use them at any time convenient for you. Try to choose the safest routes that run far from hostilities in the LPR.
Also, it will not hurt to have with you not only documents proving your identity, but also a passport. Be sure to check the rules for crossing the border between Russia and Ukraine before the trip, prepare all the necessary documents (including for children, if they travel with you).