Russia is building a bizarre train fortification in Ukraine. The fortification consists of over 2,000 freight wagons and stretches over 30 kilometres. The train, possibly aimed at stopping future Ukrainian assaults, is dubbed the ‘tsar train’.

Satellite imagery indicates that Russia has been working on the train fortification for the past nine months. The fortification is being constructed south of Donetsk city in Ukraine’s southeast. The structure is currently located 6 kilometres behind the front line.

On 11 February, a Ukrainian source reported that Russia had gathered approximately 2,100 freight wagons to be used as fortifications. The works on the bizarre train started in July of 2023 and continue until this day. The source explained that it is difficult to assess the fortification effectiveness of the bizarrely long train, but that it is most likely difficult to damage and break through it.

Russia started building major fortification lines in anticipation of Ukraine’s counteroffensive in the summer of 2023. The fortifications have proved to be a major headache in Ukraine’s effort to liberate its territories, and it is likely that the ‘tsar train’ functions as a part of the wider defence infrastructure built by Russia.