Drone attacks in Moscow and Belgorod region, burning train on Russia-China line: This week's blasts in Russia

More about explosions in Russia and the temporarily occupied territories in Espreso's weekly review.

Drone attacks on Moscow and Belgorod region and a fire at the Chelyabinsk Tractor Plant

• For the Russians, the evening of November 26 ended with a fire after an explosion at the Chelyabinsk Tractor Plant, which produces engines for Russian tanks. Reportedly, an electrical transformer exploded on the plant's premises, and then a fire broke out. As a result, the residential buildings neighboring the plant lost power and water.

• The Institute for the Study of War also noted in its report that the Defence Intelligence of Ukraine was involved in a large-scale weekend drone attack on Russia. The Russian Ministry of Defense claimed that on the night of November 25-26 and on the morning of November 26, Russian air defense systems shot down 24 Ukrainian drones over Moscow, Tula, Kaluga, Bryansk, and Smolensk regions. 

• On Wednesday, November 29, the Russian Defense Ministry accused Ukraine of an alleged drone attack on the Moscow region. Russian air defense allegedly destroyed the UAV over the territory of the Podolsk Urban Okrug of Moscow region.

• The next day, on November 30, the Russian Defense Ministry announced an alleged drone attack on the Belgorod region. In Bryansk, an attack on a drone warehouse was reported, and residents say they heard explosions near the telecenter. The warehouse has been attacked by drones before.

Burning train on the line connecting Russia and China - successful work of the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU)

• In Russia, an explosion occurred on the Baikal-Amur Mainline, which is located in Buryatia: The media report a successful SBU operation. At the same time, Russia reports smoke. The explosion occurred on a section of the highway in the Severomuysky Tunnel. Despite there being no official comment from the Security Service, media sources report that the explosion of the highway was a successful operation by the SBU.  It is stated that 4 explosive devices were detonated when a freight train was moving along the main line. The FSB was working at the scene, and railroad workers were trying to minimize the consequences of the explosion. "This is the only serious railroad connection between Russia and China. And now this route, which Russia uses, among other things, for military supplies, is paralyzed," the sources emphasized at the time.

Explosions in Mariupol and the work of Ukrainian guerrillas in Melitopol

• On Friday, December 1, in the temporarily occupied Melitopol, Ukrainian guerrillas killed several Russians and damaged a Russian fuel tanker. Military equipment is out of commission. According to intelligence, the so-called occupation administration in Melitopol tried to hide the consequences of the attack due to fear of the Kremlin's special services.

• On Saturday, December 2, an explosion occurred in the temporarily occupied Mariupol at the Ilyich Iron and Steel Works, where the Russian base is likely to be located. Later, the occupiers sent aircraft into the sky: "An unusual sound is reported from the north of the area. It may be some new modification of 'mopeds' (Shahed-type drones - ed.)," stated Petro Andriushchenko, the mayor's advisor.

Opinions of experts

Defense Express analyst Serhiy Zgurets is convinced that strikes on Russian enterprises involved in the military-industrial complex are a very effective strategy to weaken Russia's potential on the battlefield.

"The Russian and Ukrainian sides are indeed using drones very actively now. We already know everything about Russian attacks. As for the Ukrainian ones, the Defense Intelligence of Ukraine is primarily implementing an effective strategy of strikes on Russian industrial facilities. In particular, the enterprises that manufacture various types of military equipment," he explains.

Mykhailo Prytula, a military expert, SBU reserve colonel, and military counterintelligence expert, believes that the explosions in the Baikal Amur Mainline Tunnel and the destruction of two bridges in the Far East are a serious blow to Russian territory, which will make it impossible for Russia to transport cargo from the DPRK until at least spring.

According to him, the entire Trans-Siberian Railway, and this tunnel in particular, are of strategic importance for supplying the invading Russian forces in Ukraine. Delaying the logistics on this route will have consequences. Russia will lose the ability to move equipment for a certain period, and this time will not be short.

"The most important thing is that now China has to provide the Far East with everything it needs, gradually developing it. It is already possible to start the Chinese Five-Year Plan in that territory. This is a very serious event because there are no other roads there," the expert emphasized.