Damage to Last Crimean Railway Ferry to Exacerbate Russian Supply Issues, Reports UK Intelligence

The strike by Ukrainian forces, which recently damaged the railway ferry "Slavyanin" at the Russian port of "Kavkaz," is likely to cause further logistical problems for Russia in supplying its forces in southern Ukraine and in regional liquefied gas exports.

This conclusion was drawn by British military intelligence in a daily report published on Thursday, July 25, on the Ministry of Defense's social media page.

“Slavyanin” has the largest capacity of the three rail RO-ROs transiting the Kerch Strait between Russia and the Crimean Peninsula. Following the successful Ukrainian missile strikes which damaged the other two rail RO-RO vessels on 29 May 2024, “Slavyanin” had been put back into service as the only rail RO-RO ferry. Prior to 29 May, the “Slavyanin” was highly likely transporting LPG (liquefied petroleum gas) to customers in the Black Sea,” intelligence reports.

Following successful missile strikes by Ukrainian forces on May 29, 2024, which damaged two other railway ferries, "Slavyanin" was reintroduced into operation as the sole remaining rail ferry. Before this, it was likely used for transporting liquefied gas prior to export, according to intelligence sources.

After these attacks, Russia will likely be compelled to take risks by transporting fuel trains across the Kerch Strait Bridge, something it has sought to avoid since the first attack on the bridge in October 2022.

"Slavyanin" is the third and last railway ferry that Russian forces had in this region, as emphasized by the General Staff of Ukraine.