The Ukrainians had high hopes of disrupting a crucial route for transporting weapons from North Korea to Russia. This move comes at a time when Ukrainian forces are facing relentless attacks from the Russians on the front lines. While trains and tracks can be replaced and repaired relatively quickly, the extensive damage to this tunnel, which took years to construct, may pose a significant challenge to repair.
The conflict between Russia and Ukraine persists with intense fighting taking place on the ground and through airstrikes. On Saturday, Russian officials alleged that Ukraine launched an attack on the Russian city of Belgorod, resulting in the loss of at least 20 lives and leaving over 100 people injured. This incident seems to be a retaliatory response to the massive missile onslaught by Russia on multiple Ukrainian cities the previous day.
But the importance of guerrilla tactics has grown as both sides struggle to make significant progress at the frontlines. These tactics involve carrying out sabotage, commando raids, targeted assassinations, and attempts to destroy ammunition depots, oil pipelines, and railways.
At 5:20 p.m. on November 29, a fire tore through the tunnel, as reported by Russian Railways. Videos aired by Russian media showed flames engulfing the entrance of the tunnel. Authorities attributed the explosion to the detonation of an unidentified explosive device.
The damage caused by the explosion remains uncertain. Both sides have provided conflicting accounts of the impact of the blast. However, another explosion occurred on a different train route in close proximity within a span of 48 hours. These explosions, along with other acts of sabotage in Russia and occupied Ukraine, indicate that Kyiv is increasingly resorting to unconventional tactics in support of their conventional forces. These tactics are being employed as a means to defend against the escalating Russian attacks.
Seth Jones, an analyst at the Center for Strategic and International Studies and former adviser to the commanding general of the U.S. Special Operations Forces in Afghanistan, points out that the war in Ukraine is currently undergoing a transformation. Ukraine is shifting its focus from conventional operations to an increase in guerrilla operations against Russian forces. The objective behind this strategic shift is to gradually wear down the enemy through a series of small-scale attacks, aiming to inflict damage and casualties over time.
Russia holds a significant advantage over Ukraine in terms of population and military resources, making it more formidable in conventional warfare. However, historical evidence suggests that occupying forces are often susceptible to attacks from saboteurs who align themselves with the invaded nation. This vulnerability is further compounded by Russia’s scorched-earth tactics in Ukraine, which have fueled resistance in the occupied territories.
The Ukrainian National Resistance Center, established by Ukraine’s military to train and coordinate partisan networks in occupied territories, recently stated that Russia is increasingly deploying elite forces to suppress the underground groups amidst ongoing attacks on Russian occupation officials.
Attacks on rail lines located beyond the Ural Mountains, a historically effective barrier safeguarding the nation’s crucial military infrastructure from enemy assault, shed light on the clandestine realm of guerrilla tactics and their potential for significant impact.
Ukrainian officials have typically been reticent when it comes to discussing operations within Russia. However, on this occasion, they made it clear that they wanted the Kremlin to be fully aware of the perpetrators behind the attacks.
“After the second rail attack, a senior official from the Ukrainian intelligence service, known as the SBU, emphasized that Russian special services should come to terms with the fact that our people are present everywhere,” said the official, who requested anonymity for security purposes. The operation’s specifics were corroborated by the official, along with two other high-ranking Ukrainian officials who were acquainted with the mission. These details aligned with the information released by Russian authorities, videos from the incidents, and reports from Russian media outlets.”
Russian Railways stated that a team of 120 workers successfully cleared the tunnel within a few days, allowing train traffic to resume. However, Ukrainian intelligence officials believe that it could take several months to fully restore the mountain pass. Unfortunately, there is no way to independently verify either claim.
Trains play a crucial role for both parties, serving as the foundation of the Soviet supply system. The recent daring assault on the tunnel in Russia’s Far East is especially worrisome for the Kremlin, according to Emily Ferris, a research fellow specializing in Russia at the Royal United Services Institute in Britain.
Russia has been grappling with the challenge of protecting its lengthy and vulnerable rail lines for more than a century, according to an expert.
Russia is covered by two rail lines: the trans-Siberian and the Baikal-Amur Mainline (BAM). The trans-Siberian is a massive railway stretching 5,772 miles from Vladivostok to Moscow. On the other hand, the BAM is a newer line that spans approximately 2,600 miles, starting near the Pacific Ocean and eventually connecting with the trans-Siberian line.
The railway lines connecting Russia to China are of utmost importance to Russia, especially given the recent increase in trade with Beijing. These lines play a crucial role in both the economic and military aspects for Russia. However, the challenge lies in safeguarding these lines, as they pass through the vast Siberian plains, dense forests, and open steppes.
The close integration of Russia and Belarus’ railway systems played a crucial role in enabling the rapid deployment of troops and equipment between the two nations. This allowed Belarus to serve as a strategic launching point for Russia’s offensive on Kyiv, the capital city, from the northern front in February 2022.
According to Ferris, the Russian’s logistical challenges in the early days of the war were worsened by strikes on their rail network. This played a part in the Kremlin’s inability to capture Kyiv.
According to a report by the British military intelligence agency in November, the Russian authorities are still facing a significant challenge due to ongoing sabotage of their railways by anti-war activists. These incidents have been reported for seventeen months now, indicating the persistence of this issue.
According to a report by independent Russian media outlet Mediazona, there have been 76 cases of probable railway sabotage filed with the courts in Russia since the invasion. As of October, at least 137 people, the majority of whom are under the age of 24, have been prosecuted in relation to these cases.
In late November, Ukraine’s military intelligence agency announced that it had initiated operations to sabotage rail infrastructure in Russia. They claimed responsibility for a series of fires that had resulted in the destruction of structures housing crucial equipment responsible for various operations, such as platform control, train monitoring, and signaling.
Russia, known for its history of employing unconventional tactics to achieve its political objectives, persists in dispatching sabotage and reconnaissance teams to infiltrate Ukraine.
According to Ferris, it is difficult to determine the long-term impact of Ukraine’s attack on the BAM line. However, he warns that the Russians would be wise not to disregard it.