Russia has escalated attacks on Ukraine’s railway network in a strategic attempt to impede the delivery of Western military aid, as recent strikes have led to civilian casualties and heightened the challenges faced by Ukrainian forces on the front lines. In a concerted effort that spans multiple regions, the targeting of railways emerges as a clear tactic to slow down the flow of critically needed U.S. weapons and equipment.
At least six civilians have perished, and 31 have been injured due to these attacks, with one missile strike in the Donetsk region claiming the lives of three railway employees. Further damage was inflicted in Balakliya, a rail hub in the Kharkiv region, where a regional train was hit, resulting in injuries to 10 passengers. Although the Cherkasy region also saw an attack on its railway facilities, there have thankfully been no reported casualties.
“We see strikes related to railway logistics, and they hit mostly civilian facilities,” Oleksandr Pertsovsky, the head of passenger transportation at Ukrzaliznytsia, told AFP.
The Ukrainian railway system, which boasts an impressive 12,000 miles of tracks and a workforce of around 230,000 employees, has been a linchpin in the ongoing conflict. Not only has it been crucial for evacuating civilians from dangerous front-line areas, but it has also been instrumental in distributing grain and humanitarian assistance nationwide. Perhaps most significantly, it has facilitated the movement of heavy weaponry supplied by Western allies, utilizing supply lines that are both heavily guarded and covert.
This latest spate of assaults follows a declaration from Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu, who unequivocally stated Russia’s intent to disrupt the arrival of Western aid: “We will increase the intensity of attacks on logistics centers and storage bases for Western weapons.”
In response to these developments, NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg underscored the urgent need for action in a speech delivered in Berlin. Recognizing the commitments made by the United States and other allied nations to support Ukraine, he emphasized, “It is now our responsibility to turn these commitments into real deliveries of weapons and ammunition. And to do so quickly.”
Relevant articles:
– Russia to step up strikes on Western weapons in Ukraine, April 24, 2024
– Russia Striking Ukraine Railways to ‘Paralyse’ Army Cargo: Ukraine Source, Kyiv Post, Fri, 26 Apr 2024 14:38:59 GMT
– Russia attacks Ukraine’s rail lines to disrupt supply of U.S. arms, source says, Yahoo News UK, Fri, 26 Apr 2024 13:40:03 GMT
– Russia Strikes Ukraine’s Railways and Vows to Slow Arrival of U.S. Aid 27 Apr 2024