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Ukraine blows up main railway connection between Russia and China (www.politico.eu)

submitted 11 months ago by MicroWave@lemmy.world to c/world@lemmy.world

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Ukraine’s security service blew up a railway connection linking Russia to China, in a clandestine strike carried out deep into enemy territory, with pro-Kremlin media reporting that investigators have opened a criminal case into a “terrorist attack.”

The SBU set off several explosions inside the Severomuysky tunnel of the Baikal-Amur highway in Buryatia, located some 6,000 kilometers east of Ukraine, a senior Ukrainian official with direct knowledge of the operation told POLITICO.

“This is the only serious railway connection between the Russian Federation and China. And currently, this route, which Russia uses, including for military supplies, is paralyzed,” the official said.

Four explosive devices went off while a cargo train was moving inside the tunnel. “Now the (Russian) Federal Security Service is working on the spot, the railway workers are unsuccessfully trying to minimize the consequences of the SBU special operation,” the Ukrainian official added.

Ukraine’s security service has not publicly confirmed the attack. Russia has also so far not confirmed the sabotage.

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[-] IphtashuFitz@lemmy.world 42 points 11 months ago* (last edited 11 months ago)

I know virtually nothing about the Russian train system. Are all the routes able to carry the same loads? Older lines may have narrower tunnels, weaker bridges, etc. that are unable to transport the larger/heavier loads that Russia hopes to bring from China…

Edit: Track gauge is another question. I did some quick Googling and it looks like Russia used to use 1,524 mm gauge while China uses 1,435 mm. If those other lines aren’t compatible with China then it means cargo would need to be unloaded from their trains at the border and then reloaded onto Russian trains. That would slow things down tremendously.

[-] someguy3@lemmy.ca 23 points 11 months ago

Generally yes your lines can carry the same loads and have the same gauge. You want your internal logistics to be straightforward.

[-] Chocrates@lemmy.world 11 points 11 months ago

That is pretty clever

[-] someguy3@lemmy.ca 12 points 11 months ago

They have all sorts of interesting things. Their mortars are 1mm larger diameter. So if they capture enemy supplies, they can fire them (with a little less accuracy). If the west captures Russian mortars and tries to fire them (in western barrels) they run the risk of jamming and exploding.

[-] rottingleaf@lemmy.zip 2 points 11 months ago

That might have something to do with Soviet production culture affecting precision, not preventing the potential adversary from firing Soviet ammunition. That is, done so that Soviet mortars wouldn't sometimes explode firing Soviet ammo.

[-] someguy3@lemmy.ca 2 points 11 months ago

Both the Russian mortar round and the mortar barrel are 1 mm larger.

[-] rottingleaf@lemmy.zip 1 points 11 months ago

Ah. Sorry for being stupid.

[-] Ibex0@lemmy.world 4 points 11 months ago

N. Korea uses a smaller gauge.

[-] someguy3@lemmy.ca -5 points 11 months ago

Your point? Different countries choose for their own country.

[-] Cinner@lemmy.world 4 points 11 months ago

His point was that NK was taking a note from the Russian playbook and made even smaller tracks so they couldn't be invaded.

[-] Blackmist@feddit.uk 3 points 11 months ago

They're also aided by the fact that nobody really wants to.

[-] Cinner@lemmy.world 1 points 11 months ago

....

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mining_in_North_Korea

[-] FarceOfWill@infosec.pub 1 points 11 months ago

And their logistics runs off trains so they have a giant problem when invading others, only same gauge can be used reliably and rail stations are a huge target

[-] someguy3@lemmy.ca 2 points 11 months ago

Yeah but they're more afraid of being invaded. See history.

this post was submitted on 01 Dec 2023

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