Rail logistics 'vital' in Russian invasion of Ukraine
Russia is using the railway to move ammunition, armour, fuel and personnel into Ukraine – which means it has become a vital component in sustaining its invasion of Ukraine.
An MOD intelligence update says that "the rail network in occupied Ukraine remains largely viable but vulnerable to sporadic interdiction by Ukrainian artillery, air-launched missiles and sabotage".
In previous conflicts, to make rail transport unusable, it has required "focused, sustained, and repeated attack by air and/or ground forces".
The MOD report also says it is likely that Russia is continuing to maintain and improve its rail lines of communication in Ukraine.
Last month, Ukrainian officials reported that Russia has been constructing a new railway line that will link the cities of Mariupol, Volnovakha and Donetsk to Russia.
Such a railway would allow Russia to transport military and civilian supplies to occupied territory in southern Ukraine without relying on the Crimea Bridge.
Ukrainian forces have increased their attacks on the bridge connecting Crimea to the Russian mainland over recent months in an attempt to cut supply lines to the peninsula.
Russia's new line, however, is believed to fall within the range of Ukrainian long-range precision strike systems.
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