Success of Ukrainian partisans: another Russian train with military equipment destroyed by explosion in occupied territories
10.11.2025The Invisible Front and Real Guerrilla Warfare: How Rail Sabotage is Hitting the Logistics of the Russian Army and Changing Modern War Strategy
Autumn 2025. The Ukrainian resistance movement continues to systematically undermine the foundations of the occupiers' rear - another successful sabotage, this time on the railway tracks in the temporarily occupied Zaporizhia region, turned into a complete stoppage of military supplies for Russian units and another painful lesson for the enemy command.1.
Details of the operation: the detonation of the rails, the departure of the train and the consequences for the Russians
According to official information from the Main Intelligence Directorate of Ukraine, before dawn on October 26, a powerful explosion occurred on the section between temporarily occupied Chernihivka and Stulnevy (Berdyansk district). Partisans blew up the railway line at the very moment when a military train with equipment and ammunition was moving along it. The track was destroyed for more than 70 meters, and traffic was paralyzed for several days.1.
One diesel locomotive, three railway platforms and nine freight cars, filled with ammunition, fuel and equipment for units fighting in the Tokmak and Berdyansk areas, derailed. Photos from the scene, distributed by the "ATESH" movement, show: part of the train fell into a ravine, the cars were damaged by the explosion, and the debris was scattered for tens of meters.
Importance for the front: why attacks on rail infrastructure are critical
Military experts emphasize: railway communication in the rear is the heart of Russian logistics. It is the trains that transport the largest flows of shells, fuel and equipment for the advanced groups. Any disruption to the delivery rhythm, every day of delay forces the Russian troops to reduce shelling, postpone offensive operations and even abandon rotations in certain areas.2.
The destruction of just one such depot is tens of thousands of “unfired” shells that did not reach the positions near Orekhov, in the Kherson region, or in Budyonnytsia. That is why railway bombings have become a symbol of the new “voltage levels” tactic: the most effective way to confront an army is to strike where the enemy is not expecting it.
A selection of high-profile sabotage and new resistance tactics
The latest wave of sabotage is not unique: in August-October 2025 alone, partisans carried out a number of operations in Melitopol, near Crimea, in Berdyansk, and on the branches to Donetsk region and Rostov. In August, a special operation forced the movement of cargo from southern Russia to be stopped for several weeks.3.
The ingenuity is particularly impressive: ATES agents not only mine the rails, but also set up explosions under fuel cars, enhance the effect of sabotage by paralyzing signaling, damage relay cabinets, and even spread disinformation to mislead station security.4.
Against the backdrop of a shortage of reserves in the Russian Federation and growing needs over the summer, each such strike increases the burden on the commanders of the Russian army, and for the local population it becomes a sign: the occupier is not omnipotent even in the deep rear.
How the Kremlin is reacting: panic, orders, search for "spies"
Russian sources and official spokesmen admit that the intensification of the rail war is hitting the army's nervous system. After several serious incidents, the FSB and military blockade units are mass arresting those suspected of collaborating with the resistance movement.1.
At the same time, online communities document that even in the deep rear, such as in Crimea or the Upper Volga region, part of the population sympathizes with Ukrainian saboteurs, and those detained are, as a rule, ordinary citizens, not professional agents.
The Partisan Movement: How Ukraine Changed the Traditions and Image of Modern Resistance
Unlike in the 20th century, today's guerrillas are often people with higher education, IT professionals or school employees, who are fluent in gadgets, have access to open maps, and speak several foreign languages. They coordinate actions through classified channels, often work under deep cover, and use modern surveillance systems, drones, and even homemade explosive devices.5.
It was the partisan movement that became a huge pain point for the Russian Federation's plans - due to constant losses of equipment, disrupted transportation, and forced delays in equipment, Moscow cannot quickly respond to the advance of the Ukrainian Armed Forces and is forced to disperse forces to protect the rear.
What's Next: Guerrillas as a New Strategic Resource of War
Military and analysts point out: today's reality of the Armed Forces of Ukraine is not only a classic artillery duel, but also a constant struggle behind enemy lines. The future of rail warfare is even greater involvement of local residents, technical know-how (remote mining from the side without direct contact is already being developed) and support for information warfare.
Western allies assess partisan resistance as one of the main factors in attrition of the enemy. While such operations are ongoing, the supply chain of the Russian army cannot be fully restored. This is a chance for Ukraine not only to ease frontline fighting, but also to create long-term strategic pressure on the occupier.
Sources
- Interfax-Ukraine: Partisans blow up tracks, derail Russian military train in occupied Zaporizhia
- TSN.ua: Sabotage on railway tracks near Simferopol
- Glavred: Failure of Russian military transports after sabotage
- Varta1: ATESH guerrillas sabotaged the railway near Simferopol
- Wikipedia: Ukrainian partisan movement during the Russo-Ukrainian War
