Ukraine organized an explosion on a railroad in Russia's Far East

Agents said four explosive devices were used in the attack

Ukrainian intelligence was behind the bombing of a freight train in Russia's Far East, according to an official familiar with the operation, an attack that would have expanded the agency's sphere of influence deeper into Siberia. This was reported by Bloomberg.

Agents of the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) targeted a section of the Baikal-Amur railroad using four explosive devices, the official said on condition of anonymity. The train was traveling through a tunnel near Severomaisk, northeast of Lake Baikal.

The SBU believes the route was used to transport military supplies, the official said. The Baikal-Amur and Trans-Siberian railways, which run north of the Chinese border, are Russia's two main transportation arteries through Siberia and provide freight and goods transportation as well as passenger service. Last year, they transported 149 million tons of cargo.

State-owned Russian Railways reported on Telegram that a train carrying fuel through a tunnel in Russia's Buryatia region caught fire, forcing it to reroute rail traffic via an alternative route, causing a "minor" delay.

An attack more than 4,000 miles east of Kyiv would signal the capabilities of the Ukrainian military, even as the country struggles to halt a counteroffensive and worries about dwindling allied support.

The SBU has claimed responsibility for many targeted strikes behind the front lines during the war, including a naval drone attack on a Russian missile carrier in Crimea last month. In Russia, Ukrainian special forces used drones to attack a power plant in the Belgorod region, Interfax reported in October, citing the SBU.

Author - Serhii Kolomiets, 01/12/2023