In advance of what is anticipated to be a Kyiv counteroffensive, an explosive device derailed Russian goods train in an area bordering Ukraine for a second straight day on Tuesday. The Crimea, which Moscow annexed in 2014, and Russian territory have also experienced a wave of attacks recently. In the past four days, explosions have caused two trains to derail, a suspected drone to strike oil storage in Crimea, sparking a massive fire, and blow up power lines close to Saint Petersburg.
The strikes occur as Russia prepares to commemorate May 9, a day that has grown significantly under President Vladimir Putin’s administration as it commemorates the Soviet victory over the Nazis. In keeping with tradition, Ukraine has not claimed responsibility for the strikes, which came as Kyiv stated it was wrapping up preparations for a spring offensive that had been announced weeks earlier.
A similar explosion in Unecha, in the same location but closer to the Ukrainian border, resulted in a train derailing and catching fire on Monday
Bryansk region governor Alexander Bogomaz stated on Tuesday that an “unidentified explosive device” caused the train to derail. He claimed that it went off at Snezhetskaya station, which is a few miles from Bryansk, a city of around 370,000 people located close to the borders of Belarus and Ukraine. He claimed, “A locomotive and several waggons of the train derailed,” and added that no one was hurt. A similar explosion in Unecha, in the same location but closer to the Ukrainian border, resulted in a train derailing and catching fire on Monday.
Throughout its more than year-long offensive, the Kremlin has sought to portray Russia as safe while its troops fight in Ukraine. Earlier on Tuesday it acknowledged a security threat. “Of course, we are aware that the Kyiv regime, which is behind a number of such attacks — terrorist attacks — plans to continue this line,” Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said. “All our intelligence services are doing everything necessary to ensure security.” Russian Railways also put out a statement saying the train had derailed due to “the intervention of unauthorised persons in the work of rail transport.
No mention of an explosive device was made. According to the state operator, the event happened between Snezhetskaya and the next village of Belye Berega around 7:47 p.m. local time (16:47 GMT). The front locomotive of the train and “about 20 waggons,” according to the report, were derailed, and rail movement in that area had been halted. Since Moscow began its offensive in Ukraine, there have been several claims of sabotage on Russian trains, but this week marks the first time attacks have been officially proven.
In the meantime, Denmark announced that it was providing Ukraine with military assistance
According to a report by the independent media Mediazona published in mid-April, more than 65 persons, including a third of juveniles, have been held since the autumn in just about 20 parts of the country on charges of railway sabotage.
According to Ukraine, a counteroffensive to drive Russian soldiers out of the territory they now control in the east and south has been planned for months. In the meantime, Denmark announced that it was providing Ukraine with military assistance worth 1.7 billion kroner ($250 million). According to a statement from the Danish defence ministry, the package comprised mine-clearing vehicles, ammunition, and financial support for the purchase of air defence. “The equipment… is essential to pave the way for Ukrainian tanks and mechanised infantry on the front line,” acting defence minister Troels Lund Poulsen said.