Russia fires missiles at railways to disrupt flow of western weapons to help Kyiv
Russia has launched missiles at Ukrainian railways and supply routes to foil deliveries of weapons from the West.
The central city of Dnipro was hit by a missile aimed at railway infrastructure on Wednesday, a day after six electric substations serving rail lines were damaged in Russian strikes, Ukraine said.
Russia said it attacked the railways because western arms and ammunition were being sent to Ukrainian forces by train. Russian Defence Minister Sergey Shoigu complained that the West was “stuffing Ukraine with weapons”.
In recent weeks, Kyiv’s allies have increased their military support. France, Britain, Germany and the US have offered advanced equipment – such as Caesar self-propelled howitzers – in response to pleas for more help from Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
The attacks on supply routes have stretched far beyond the eastern Donbas region on which Russia’s ground offensive is focused, keeping other parts of Ukraine in the line of fire.
Kyiv has accused Moscow of hampering evacuation missions
by damaging railway infrastructure.
Kyiv said it had drawn up other supply routes to protect civilians and its troops from rockets. “Russia is trying
to hinder the support of the whole free world,” it said.
Last week, Kyiv said it carried out a similar attack.
It described cutting off one of two major railway lines between the mainland and the annexed Crimean Peninsula by blowing up a bridge near the occupied south-eastern city of Melitopol.
Britain’s Defence Ministry said in a regular intelligence update that Russian strikes were aimed both at hampering supply efforts and weakening Ukraine’s resolve to fight against Russian forces.
Non-military targets such as schools, hospitals and homes have continued to be hit, indicating a willingness to strike civilian infrastructure to lower morale, the ministry said.
Ukraine said Russia was seeking full control of the Donetsk and Luhansk regions in the east.
It said Russia shelled north-eastern city Kharkiv and fired mortars and artillery at Izium. The eastern city is considered a focal point of Moscow’s offensive in Donbas.
In Mariupol, the south-eastern port occupied by Russian forces after weeks of heavy fighting, Ukraine said another 344 people had been rescued and were being taken to the city of Zaporizhzhia.
Mr Zelenskyy said it was essential that a ceasefire held so that more people could be rescued from shelters underneath the Azovstal steel plant in Mariupol.
Russia is sceptical of his reasoning and claims that foreign fighters have been hidden there.
The attacks on supply routes have stretched far beyond the eastern Donbas battleground