The Russian military is stepping up its efforts to stop Western armaments from reaching Ukraine, attacking at least six railway stations and buildings on Monday.
According to Russia’s state news agency, the Russian Ministry of Defense confirmed that it struck the locations, destroying railroad tracks and transport lines because they were being used “to supply Ukrainian forces with foreign weapons.”
Ukrainian military officials issued a follow-up press release on social media, warning that the Russians were attempting to “destroy the supply routes of military-technical assistance from partner states. To do this, they focus strikes on railway junctions.”
Oleksander Kamyshin, head of the Ukrainian Railways authority, confirmed earlier on Monday that five of the stations had been hit, adding that the number of casualties was unknown. According to local media, the attack was described as an “unusually long,” consistent air raid that lasted two hours.
Ukraine’s military command interpreted it as part of continuous Russian efforts to entirely disable its military transport infrastructure, focusing on foreign armament supplies, which the Kremlin has previously referred to as “legitimate targets.”
Previous Russian strikes on train stations occurred over the first few days of this month. The country has also launched attacks on other Ukrainian infrastructure that could be used for civilian and military purposes, such as oil refineries and power plants.
Zero Hedge reports these efforts to destroy and disrupt arms shipments are likely to increase in frequency and intensity, potentially bringing Russia closer to a direct conflict with NATO.
“We want to see Russia weakened to the degree that it can’t do the kinds of things it has done in invading Ukraine,” said Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin. In addition, he stated that the Russian military “has already lost a lot of military capability and a lot of its troops, quite frankly.”
The Ukrainian military needs planes, and those planes will assist in leveling the playing field.
Without capability of flying over their enemy they are sitting ducks.