European Railroad Discussion > Russia targets Ukrainian rail in the Donbas region

The Wall Street Journal has a piece this morning about the Russian strategy of capturing key railroad junctions in the eastern Ukraine, and using them to facilitate the movement of tanks, supplies, and fuel from Russia.  The Russian military doctrine since the early 1900s has relied on artillery, and tanks, both of which require rail to move vast amounts of support.

Saboteurs have destroyed several bridges supporting the military on both sides, the article says. Interesting article.

Paywall likely:  https://www.wsj.com/articles/russia-targets-ukraines-rail-links-for-military-gains-11653987818?mod=world_major_1_pos9

Apparently Russia took out the Beskydy Tunnel last night, severing rail service from Slovakia:

Russia unleashes 'hypersonic missile' on NATO supply line inside Ukraine in desperate bid to stop arms crossing border (thesun.co.uk)

 



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 06/02/22 08:56 by ts1457.

ts1457 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> ........ severing rail service from Slovakia:.......

Wasn't the line along the Uzh River still in service pre-'war' ?  It's single track, but [ also ] 3000 vdc.

SZ

 

Steinzeit2 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> ts1457 Wrote:
> -------------------------------------------------------
> > ........ severing rail service from Slovakia:.......
>
> Wasn't the line along the Uzh River still in
> service pre-'war' ?  It's single track, but [
> also ] 3000 vdc.

I am not sure about the current status of that line, so rail service between Slovakia and Ukraine may not be completely severed. However I see statements that the line with the tunnel taken out handles the majority of EU - Ukraine rail freight traffic. Supposedly the cruise missile was flown into the tunnel, so repairs will not be simple.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 06/03/22 08:30 by ts1457.

Since that cruise missile attack on the tunnel also included target(s) in the 'Sambir district' it would appear the secondary line is also being attacked.

SZ

Flying a cruise missile into a rail tunnel speaks well of the teams which guide it.

Lackawanna484 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Flying a cruise missile into a rail tunnel speaks
> well of the teams which guide it.

It's all about terrain mapping.