In the latest Defence Intelligence update on the situation in Ukraine, an increase in Russian rail accidents near the Ukrainian border has been reported.
These incidents have been attributed to sabotage committed by unknown actors, causing short-term localised disruptions to Russian military rail movements.
“A recent uptick in Russian rail accidents in areas bordering Ukraine, attributed to sabotage committed by unknown actors, has almost certainly caused short-term localised disruption to Russian military rail movements,” states the update.
Swift Recovery by Railway Troop Brigades
Despite the setbacks caused by these accidents, Russia’s Railway Troop Brigades have demonstrated their capability to restore lines quickly.
Their efforts, however, are increasingly putting pressure on Russia’s internal security forces.
“Although its Railway Troop Brigades are capable of restoring lines quickly, these incidents will increase pressure on Russiaās internal security forces,” the report explains.
Vulnerable Rail Networks Remain a Challenge
The report suggests that Russia’s vast and vulnerable rail networks are highly likely to remain unprotected from potential attacks.
Russia’s internal security forces may struggle to fully protect these networks, given the scale and complexity of the system.
“They will highly likely remain unable to fully protect Russiaās vast and vulnerable rail networks from attack,” the update concludes.
Would be a shame if the train came to a standstill and was hit by other munitions?
The ‘recent up tick’ is the interesting part for me. No doubt they are timed to disrupt Russia’s supply chain prior to the Ukrainian offensive. Remember the allied bombing of the French railway network prior to D-day? Disrupting the ability of your enemy to move and crucially build up supplies is key to preparing for any offensive action.
Can’t be long now.
Cheers CR
CR, Spot on, ever thought of being an Analyst. š I suspect you remember watching the newsreels at the time šš
I wonder how many Ukrainians have visited Hereford and Ft Benning in recent times… if Railway Troop Bde can repair things, so quickly, it suggests light-weight explosives, on the other hand, electronically attacking any SCADA network the Russians might operate would have wide spread results and possibly longer term impact. I wonder how much we devote to attacking SCADA networks over at 77th? Unbelievable – just tried to google the specialist unit set up to conduct offensive electronic warfare and found this: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1st_Intelligence,_Surveillance_and_Reconnaissance_Brigade – it has been reduced! That is a scandal imho. And finally, attacking weak points such as… Read more Ā»
Hi David. Regards 1 ISRB, some of its assets have just been redistributed as part of FS, they still exist. It’s a growth area so not cuts as such. Each “Division” has such a IM Group in support, along side 1 ISRB. On the signalling, I’ve no idea just how advanced the Russians signalling systems are, how much is computerised and how much remains like our old “Absolute Block” using Semaphore Signalling. That sort would need physical sabotage of the interlocking in Signal Boxes and points. The more modern stuff I guess could be hacked, given the issues with some… Read more Ā»
Another thought, assume most of the Russian system is non electrified? Otherwise, those Sub Stations supplying the overhead wires would make a nice target too.
Even if the signalling is knackered, if they have the staff they can get round that with things like Temporary Block Working and Block Working, where Handsignallers are assigned to sections and the Signalman just needs comms to the next box. ( A simplification on my part) The trains still run but at reduced capacity.
So actual destruction of the points, Bridges and Tunnels is best.
Russias railways are pretty large and electrification is expensive even in a limited way but they have electrification on 50% of it..ā¦53,000 miles with around 27,000miles electrifiedā¦with 80% of that being automated controlsā¦..it shows up how little the UK has bothered investing in rail infrastructure..considering the difference in wealth between the two nations, size of the railways, the rampant graft in Russia and environmental/geographical challenges faced by the Russian railwaysā¦..most of the UK Electrification is focused only in high use areas, if you think the UK has only managed to electrify around 40% of our 10,000 miles of railsā¦..if we… Read more Ā»
Yes, agreed regards the UK railway network. Much more needs electrifying. On infrastructure, for a system based on the Victorian era only so much can be done in some areas, like the approaches to Waterloo where 8 tracks are elevated surrounded by built up area. There is not room to expand unless we tunnel, or demolish housing en masse like they first did when building London’s railways in the 1st place.
Costs are ridiculous here too.
You say Russia has 80% automated control. In what, Signalling? Power?
MAS – Latvia, Estonia and Lithuania have the same.
Hi Daniele I believe itās 80% in signallingā¦they had a massive manpower reduction programme, itās hard to believe but at the end of the Cold War Russian railways employed 2.2 million peopleā¦I think with moderation they got that down to about 900,000. Rail is massively important to Russia, due to distance and the difficulty in using shipping and poor road infrastructure.
Well… if we’d kept the Penrith, Keswick to Workington line along with the lines to Coniston and Lakeside, tourism would be booming and the Pen – WKN line would have taken a lot of construction traffic off the A595 for Sellafield.
I absolutely dislike the Central Europeans for taking EU funds for like for like replacement, but, with the exception of Latvia, they have retained many rail lines. Latvia committed economic vandalism with their ‘Beeching.’
Hi Daniele, I thought a unit had been set up for offensive cyber hacking, but, I can’t recall. Russia has a 400 KPH line between Moscow and St Petersburg – delivered by SIEMENS, so very advanced. I understand that the old absolute block signalling can be replaced quickly, but, humping around PEX as against wire cutters… the wire cutters would have a far greater effect and tie up a lot of security man power. Just my opinion. Indeed, if their signalling is similar to ours (we helped build it) then just stick track circuit breakers all over the shop during… Read more Ā»
Replied in some detail but “awaiting for approval”
Slava Ukraine
An old proverb or two come to mind
An eye for an eye a tooth for a tooth.
Don’t start what you can’t finish
Never under estimate your enemy
Russia crazily seems to think it’s territory is sacrosanct and Ukraine can’t possible cross the border to prosecute the war against the aggressor.
By Russia moving the majority of its war material via rail it’s only obvious those rain links are ripe for attack.
Where is the counter offensive?
The days of the big superpower are long gone, the Americans found that out in Vietnam, it’s the same with every country wanting independence, as long as one is prepared to fight for it, it can be yours, russians lost in Afghanistan (and we did) they will lose in Ukraine .
Proxy wars never end..we needed too give Ukraine European Union status before Russia stepped into there country now it’s too late and this proxy war is just going to go on and on there’s no end unless we send in our troops which isn’t going to happen.its so sad Ukraine was a lovely place look at now.no ones going to be able too live in most parts if the war ended today it’s going too take hundreds of years too make Ukraine safe andd build up Ukraine one day salva to Ukraine my peace come soon godbless Ukraine
Hmmm…truly random chance that an increase in the number of unacknowledged British special forces w/in UKR is not highly positively correlated w/ the number of acts of sabotage on Russian facilities? š¤ Methinks not. š Keep up the good works lads, keep your heads down and please avoid capture! šš That would not go down well in the PR arena. In about 20-25 yrs., someone will write a definitive account, and an international blockbuster movie will be created. Studios are already probably in preproduction planning…