Rail war in Russia (2022–present)

Last updated

2022–present rail war in Russia
Part of the 2022–2023 Belarusian and Russian partisan movement
Date24 February 2022 (2022-02-24) – present
Caused by Russian invasion of Ukraine
Methods
StatusOngoing
Parties

The rail war began in different regions of Russia in the spring of 2022 after a similar rail war in Belarus. [5] [6] [7] [8]

Contents

According to The Insider's summary of media reports, at least 63 freight trains derailed in Russia between March and June 2022, about one and a half times more than during the same period in 2021. [9]

Organizations

Responsibility for the "rail war" was assumed by representatives of the "Combat Organization of Anarcho-Communists". In particular, they delayed the arrival of trains to a military unit in the Vladimir Oblast, where an arsenal of the Main Missile and Artillery Directorate of the Russian Defense Ministry is located. [10]

On 28 June 2022 the cell "BOAK-Vladimir" published a press release claiming sabotage action on railway of military unit 55443 VD Barsovo (51st Arsenal of the Main Missile and Artillery Directorate, 1060th Centre for Material-Technical Support, Western Military District) near Kirzhach in Vladimir Oblast. The rails were damaged. BOAK's press release stated, "Every stopped train helps to get rid of missiles and rockets, which could hit peaceful Ukrainian cities!" [11]

In mid 2022, a second group, the "Stop the Wagons" movement, was created to engage in sabotage on railways in Russia.

Also, the Belarusian organization "Busly Lyatsyats" took responsibility for some of the partisan actions carried out on the infrastructure of the Russian Railways. [3]

Actions

2022

2023

2024

Reactions

On the first day of the full-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine, 24 February 2022, the Russian Ministry of Transport ordered to increase the level of security on the railways in the southern regions of Russia. In April, Ukraine's Main Intelligence Directorate published what it said was a telegram sent by the heads of railroad sections in the Rostov and Krasnodar regions calling for cooperation with the authorities to protect the railways. [9]

In June, RZhD-Partner magazine wrote, citing Goszheldornadzor, that more than 55% of freight train accidents in the previous four months were related to the state of the railway tracks. At the same time, the FSB at least once reported on the detention of people who had allegedly prepared acts of sabotage at a "transport infrastructure facility" in the Belgorod Region. [30]

Two men arrested in March 2022 were sentenced in a Russian court in February 2023 to over 3 years in prison after being suspected of planning a sabotage operation. Three students from the town of Chekhov near Moscow, who had been arrested by the FSB, potentially face up to 10 year prison sentences. [31]

By May 2023 66 individuals had been arrested in relation to railway sabotage issues, the most common offence being the burning of relay boxes, which now have a stencilled warning about the penalties of sabotage on them. [32]

By October 2023 the number arrested had reached 150, one third are children, with 137 prosecuted in 76 cases. [33]

See also

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References

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