Streamlines travel across seven regions and cuts down on journey time: comprehensive information about Russia's M-12, dubbed "Putin's Autobahn"
The M-12 "East" highway, a significant part of Russia's strategic motorway system, was officially opened on July 16, 2025, marking a critical step towards enhancing connectivity across multiple regions. The 275-kilometre section from Dyurtyuli to Achit, which crosses Bashkortostan, Perm, and Sverdlovsk regions, has been completed and is operational as of mid-2025.
This new high-speed corridor, designed for traffic-light-free travel, has significantly reduced travel time between Yekaterinburg (the Urals capital) and Moscow. The journey time between Moscow and Kazan has been reduced from over 12 to 6.5 hours, and the journey to Vladimir now takes around two hours.
The M-12 "East" highway is part of a broader plan to extend the route all the way to Tyumen and connect it to the upgraded core road network in Siberia and the Russian Far East. This will boost east-west transport links extensively.
The highway currently passes through several regions, including Moscow, Kazan, and Chuvashia, and features 18 multifunctional zones (MFZ) along its route, providing essential facilities such as parking, fuel stations, cafes, showers, laundries, children's and sports facilities, infrastructure for buses, and pet exercise areas.
The new section has four lanes, six interchanges, noise barriers, video surveillance, and lighting systems. Russian President Vladimir Putin inaugurated this new section. The speed limit on the M-12 is up to 110 km/h, and up to 120-140 km/h on certain segments.
By 2026, the number of MFZs will increase to 32. The government is closely monitoring and supporting completion timelines, aiming to finalize associated works by next year (2026).
The M-12 "East" highway's Dyurtyuli to Achit section is a major infrastructural milestone that will substantially enhance regional connectivity, economic development, investment opportunities, tourism, and job creation across several Russian regions. Its future expansion and integration with broader Eurasian transport links will further amplify these benefits and strengthen Russia's logistical and transit potential on an international scale.
Payment for the journey can be made through a mobile app, the "Avtodor" website, terminals, or via bank services. The cost of the journey for passenger cars from Moscow to Kazan is 5349 rubles, or 4547 rubles with the loyalty program. Tariffs for new sections are calculated similarly, with discounts and bonuses available for frequent users.
Sources: [1] Government of the Russian Federation press release, July 16, 2025. [2] M-12 "East" highway official website, accessed July 25, 2025.
Sports facilities are included among the essential facilities provided at the 18 multifunctional zones (MFZ) along the M-12 "East" highway, offering opportunities for travelers to engage in activities during their journeys. With the planned increase to 32 MFZs by 2026, more travelers will have access to sports facilities across various regions along the highway.
