Iron Curtain: Russia Builds 19-Mile Wall with 2,100 Freight Train Cars in Occupied Ukraine

Russia has devised a distinctive strategy to thwart any potential Ukrainian counteroffensive by erecting a formidable barrier of freight trains stretching over 19 miles in the occupied Donetsk Oblast.

The Russian military has been steadily advancing on several Ukrainian strongholds in recent weeks and it appears that Vladimir Putin's forces are determined to maintain control over the territories they've recaptured, implementing a mobile defensive wall to deter future Ukrainian assaults.

According to assessments by the Washington-based Institute for the Study of War, Russia has been constructing this 19-mile freight train wall over the course of approximately nine months.

Satellite imagery dated between May 10, 2023, and Feb. 10, 2024, illustrates the gradual assembly of a long line of train cars spanning from occupied Olenivka in the south of Donetsk City to Volnovakha in the southeast of Vuhledar and north of Mariupol.

The ISW's report highlighted that Russian forces have amassed over 2,100 freight cars into a train stretching 30 kilometers. Construction of this barrier began in July 2023 in an area that was relatively inactive in terms of ongoing conflict at the time.

While the effectiveness of this unprecedented endeavor remains uncertain, Ukraine continues to contest Russian control over reclaimed territories.

The Ukrainian open-source intelligence tracker DeepState acknowledged the difficulty in assessing the effectiveness of such a structure but emphasized its potential as a hindrance to Ukrainian Defense Forces' advancements, The Sun reported.

The construction of the freight train wall is seen as a strategic move, particularly given the significant conflict between Ukraine and Russia in Avdiivka.

Reports from Knewz.com in January revealed Russia's successful breach of defenses in this crucial town through a tactical shift, repositioning troops to the forested southern and eastern sides of the city.

Russian soldiers reportedly utilized sewage tunnels to flank Ukrainian fortifications, leading to heavy fighting in various areas of Avdiivka. The Telegram channel Military Informer detailed the ongoing clashes in the city, emphasizing the dynamic nature of the situation.

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The ISW suggests that the construction of the mobile wall is likely aimed at maintaining Russia's advantage in the progress it has achieved. Despite observations indicating limitations in the Russian defense industrial base, particularly regarding productivity, the report notes that it still supports Russia's war efforts.

The availability of tanks, including older, more reliable models like the T-72s, continues to provide Russian forces with battlefield advantages, despite challenges with newer tank models like the T-14 Armada.