UK intelligence: Crimea's railway sabotage to disrupt arms supplies to Russia's BSF

Sabotage at facilities in the occupied Crimea is an important element of the war. The peninsula retains a vital psychological and logistical role.

“On 18 May 2023, a train derailed near Simferopol, blocking the only rail line into the port of Sevastopol, the base of Russia’s Black Sea Fleet [BSF]. The railway authorities said it was a result of ‘interference by outsiders’,” Caliber.Az reports, citing the UK Defence Ministry's intelligence update on the situation in Ukraine.

Latest Defence Intelligence update on the situation in Ukraine - 19 May 2023.

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According to the report, Russia will move to repair the line quickly, but the incident will disrupt deliveries of supplies and potentially also weaponry, such as Kalibr cruise missiles, to the BSF.

Besides, the update added that any sabotage in this sensitive area will further increase the Kremlin’s concerns about its ability to protect other key infrastructure in Crimea.

“The peninsula retains a vital psychological and logistical role in enabling Russia’s war in Ukraine,” UK Defence Ministry said.