The Ronins unit of UAV operators has published a video showing their first-person-view (FPV) drones strike various equipment of the russian invasion forces. Among them, a railway echelon headed by a 2TE116 type internal combustion locomotive stands out. The train was moving toward the city of Tokmak, southern Ukraine.
This is not the first time the Ronins, a unit belonging to the 56th Mechanized Brigade of the Ukrainian Defense Forces, have chosen this kind of target for an attack. The previous instance took place in late June 2024, it was almost identical to the new episode.
Read more: Unique Case: Ukrainian FPV Unit Hits Locomotive Far Behind Front Line, Disrupting Crucial Supply Route (Video)
That's why, this time let's look at this from a different angle. To begin with, the 2TE116 locomotive itself is a heavy target to try and destroy with a small explosive drone: even though the design doesn't support any additional armor, it still weighs 276 tons, not to mention that it's moves at high speed to land a precise strike on a weak point.
Nonetheless, the Ukrainian operators tried to hit a vulnerable spot: the driver's cabin or the engine compartment. Damaging either of them should be enough to force the train to stop and disable it for some time. Another potential weakness is the fuel tanks but they are located under the main body, therefore unreachable for an aerial vehicle.
Noteworthy is how the drone starts losing connection moments before colliding with the locomotive, potentially due to reaching the maximum operating distance from the operator or enemy electronic warfare equipment installed on the train.
Putting aside the attempt to strike, this footage is valuable as an indicator of the current state of russian logistics in occupied southern territories of Ukraine. It's an evidence that russian forces still utilize their railway near Tokmak, mere 30 km from the frontline despite the risk of being targeted by more powerful long-range weapons in Ukraine's arsenal.
The fact russians direct their railway echelons through Tokmak demonstrates that the existing railroad from Donbas to Crimea, via Donetsk, Volnovakha, and Polohy, is still being actively used.
This, in turn, means that regardless of the new route between russian Taganrog and Ukraine's Mariupol is not as much of a game changer as it's been portrayed ever since it was launched a week ago.
Surely, the news of russians freely using long-established routes is nothing good for Ukraine but it means the opening of a new one won't bring any breakthrough to the current state of affairs, and the widely discussed new railway does not have the strategic meaning it's been attributed in the media lately.
Read more: russians Launch Railway Line from Rostov-on-Don to Temporarily Occupied Mariupol
