Ukraine Strikes Again: How a Second Bombing on Putin’s Rail Line Could Disrupt His War Plans
Ukraine has escalated its covert war against Russia by bombing Putin’s longest railway line deep inside his territory for the second time in two days, according to reports. The attacks, which targeted freight trains carrying fuel and munitions from North Korea, could have a significant impact on Russia’s ability to sustain its offensive in Ukraine.
The latest bombing occurred on Thursday in Buryatia, a region in Russia’s far east, about 4,000 miles from Moscow and near the border with China. A video posted on social media showed a massive explosion and fire engulfing a 50-tanker train, filled with diesel and aviation fuel, as it passed through a forested area. A second blast then hit another train nearby, leaving four tanks burnt out and fuel spilling on the ground.
Russian authorities confirmed the incident and said it was a “terrorist attack” carried out by “foreign agents”. They did not name any suspects, but security sources told The Sun that Ukrainian secret services were behind the operation.
The bombing came just a day after another attack on the same cross-country railway line at the ten-mile-long Severomuyskiy Tunnel, which is the longest rail tunnel in Russia and a vital link between Russia and China. The tunnel was reportedly damaged by a powerful explosion that cut off the main supply route for Russian troops and weapons heading to the frontlines in Ukraine.
The attacks are part of a covert campaign by Ukraine to disrupt and sabotage Russia’s war efforts, as the conventional military balance is heavily in favor of Moscow. Ukraine has been struggling to defend its territory since Russia launched a full-scale invasion in February 2022, following years of proxy warfare and hybrid threats. The war has killed tens of thousands of people and displaced millions more, while triggering a humanitarian crisis and a diplomatic standoff between Russia and the West.
One of the key factors that has enabled Russia to wage war against Ukraine is its access to foreign weapons and supplies, especially from North Korea. Pyongyang has been a loyal ally of Moscow since the Cold War and has provided it with artillery shells, rockets, missiles, drones, and other military hardware in exchange for oil, gas, and cash.
According to US intelligence reports, North Korea has shipped as many as 1,000 containers of equipment and munitions to Russia in recent weeks, using sea and rail routes to evade international sanctions and scrutiny. The shipments have been delivered to a depot near Tikhoretsk, in south-west Russia, about 180 miles from the Ukrainian border, where they are loaded onto trains and sent to the war zone.
The US and its allies have condemned North Korea’s support for Russia’s aggression and have imposed additional sanctions on both countries. However, they have not been able to stop the flow of weapons or deter Russia from continuing its attacks on Ukraine.
The bombings on Putin’s rail line, however, could pose a serious challenge to his war plans, as they could disrupt his logistics and supply chain, and force him to divert resources and attention to secure his rear. The attacks could also expose the vulnerability of his long and complex border with China, which has been a source of tension and conflict in the past.
China, which is Russia’s largest trading partner and strategic partner, has maintained a cautious and ambiguous stance on the war in Ukraine. Beijing has not openly supported or condemned Russia’s actions, but has expressed its concern over the stability and security of the region. China has also refrained from joining the Western sanctions on Russia, but has not provided any direct assistance to Moscow either.
Some analysts believe that China is playing a double game, trying to balance its interests and relations with both Russia and the West, while avoiding being dragged into a conflict that could harm its own economic and geopolitical goals. Others argue that China is secretly backing Ukraine, hoping to weaken and contain Russia’s influence and ambitions in Eurasia.
The war in Ukraine, which has been described as the worst crisis in Europe since World War II, has reshaped the global order and the balance of power. It has also tested the limits and potential of the relationship between China and Russia, two authoritarian powers that share a common rivalry with the US, but also have divergent interests and agendas. How their relationship evolves in the face of the war will likely have major consequences for the future of the world.
