Tsar Train Defence: In eastern Ukraine, Russian soldiers have erected a roughly 20-mile roadblock consisting of abandoned train cars. It is believed that this defensive construction is intended to impede any Ukrainian counterattack.
According to the Institute for the Study of War (ISW), satellite photographs depict hundreds of goods vehicles arranged in a chain between Olenivka and Volnovakha in the Donetsk area, which has been dubbed the “tsar train” online.
According to military Telegram channel Deep State, the blockade is said to be made up of 2,100 railcars, mostly rolling stock that was stolen from other controlled territories in Ukraine.
Tsar Train Defence
A Ukrainian source quoted by the think tank claims that shortly after Ukraine launched its counteroffensive in July, Russian soldiers started erecting the improvised defensive line.
Before putting a disclaimer on it, ISW stated that the source “suggested that Russian forces intend to use the train as a defensive line against future Ukrainian assaults.”
ISW estimates that the distance between the ‘tsar train’ and the present front line is little under four miles.
An article on Deep State stated, “This is a very specific engineering structure, the effectiveness of which is difficult to assess.”
“It’s obvious what the concept is—a roadblock to the Defence Forces’ progress.
A 30km mass of metal is very difficult to destroy, move, or blow up, therefore it might be viewed as a distinct line of defence.
“It is impossible to move equipment through such an obstacle without going through the corridor.”
The 19-mile long defensive line
The blogger also stated that the railcars that were utilised to build the defensive construction were taken from Russian-occupied Ukrainian land.
The autumn saw a halt to Ukraine’s progress in the area, and as Moscow gains ground, its fatigued forces have been forced to retreat.
Russia is currently marching on Avdiivka after seizing the Donetsk town of Marinka in December, which was Kyiv’s first significant territory loss in months.
Once regarded as Ukraine’s “eastern fortress,” the city has been repeatedly attacked, resulting in the cutting off of its supply routes, wearing it down.
In the midst of rumours of a scarcity of personnel and ammunition, top Ukrainian commander Brig Gen Oleksandr Tarnavskyi promised on Sunday to bolster the city with more soldiers.
The possibility of a recurrence of the bloody, months-long conflict over neighbouring Bakhmut is increased by the choice to dig in rather than withdraw to a more secure location.
Ukraine’s June drive to retake land it had taken earlier in the war was thwarted by Russian forces.
In southern and eastern Ukraine, an 81-mile network of minefields, anti-tank ditches, and trenches known as the “Surovikin Line” was tried to be breached by military forces.
By November, the counteroffensive had failed, despite isolated victories.
