Alleged Ukrainian Involvement Reported in Train Fire Incident in Eastern Russia, Source Suggests
A Ukrainian defense source alleges that the Ukrainian Security Service (SBU) orchestrated a fire on a train in eastern Russia's strategic rail tunnel
According to a source from the Ukrainian defense, the fire that destroyed a train in an important rail tunnel in eastern Russia was caused by the Ukrainian Security Service (SBU). The source revealed that four explosive devices were set off while the train was moving.
An explosion has taken place in the Bessolov Severomuyskiy tunnel on the Baikal-Amur railway in Buryatia, a region in eastern Siberia that borders Mongolia, as reported by a source. The source claimed that the explosion was another successful special operation by the SBU, although the SBU has not released an official statement regarding the incident.
CNN cannot independently confirm explosions on the rail road.
Russia has not immediately called this an attack or blamed Ukraine for what it has so far characterized as a "a cargo train fire."
Ukraine's Military Intelligence chief Kyrylo Budanov and his wife Marianna are seen at a memorial ceremony for Ukrainian interior minister, his deputy and officials who died in helicopter crash near Ukrainian capital, amid Russia's attack on Ukraine, in Kyiv in this January 2023 photo.
Viacheslav Ratynskyi/Reuters/File
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For months, Ukraine has been carrying out targeted strikes within Russia in an effort to diminish domestic support for Moscow's war. According to the Russian Railway, a fire incident occurred on a train along that route and they are currently working to address the aftermath of a cargo train fire in the Severomuyskiy tunnel, as stated on Telegram.
The Ukrainian source described the route as "the sole significant railway link between Russia and China."
A prosecutor is in the vicinity to oversee the efforts of law enforcement and supervisory agencies, as per a statement from the East Siberian Transport Prosecutors Office. "Preliminary reports suggest that a freight train car caught fire during the night of November 29, 2023 at the Itykit - Okusikan crossing on the East Siberian Railway while passing through the Severomuisky tunnel."
Recovery and firefighting trains were used to mitigate the impact of the fire, and the prosecutors office confirmed that there were no casualties. Russian authorities will take appropriate action based on the inspection results, if necessary. The Russian Railway reported that train traffic has been rerouted, ensuring that there are no interruptions along the route, although there may be a slight increase in travel time.
The rail provider said it was working to determine the extent of the damage.
