Serious problem for Russia's military logistics - UK intelligence
Illustrative photo (Getty Images)
Sabotage on Russian railways by anti-war activists continues to be a significant challenge for the Russian authorities, according to the Ministry of Defense of the United Kingdom.
According to the report, research conducted by independent Russian media outlet Mediazona suggests that, as of October 2023, 76 cases of railway sabotage had reached court since the invasion. At least 137 people, with the vast majority aged under 24, had been prosecuted.
Since early 2023, notices have been stencilled on key pieces of railway infrastructure pointing out that, under the Russian Criminal Code, sabotage can be punished with up to life imprisonment.
According to British intelligence, Russia’s military logistics, including supplying the war in Ukraine, remain reliant on the country’s 33,000km of railway line.
"With virtually all methods of overt dissent banned in Russia, sabotage continues to appeal to a minority of young people as a method of protest against the ‘Special Military Operation’," adds the Ministry of Defense of the United Kingdom.
