UKRAINE: 3 QUESTIONS - 3 ANSWERS, PART 18: Supply?

03/28/2022 By Redaktion

Alexa Austrian Armed Forces Interview Conflicts

Military logistics expert Colonel Andreas Alexa is a researcher and lecturer at the Institute for Advanced Military Leadership at the National Defense Academy. Here he explains some aspects that often come up in questions about logistics in the Ukraine War.

The Bundesheer Expert Says:

In Ukraine, both conflicting parties face the challenge of ensuring the supply for their armed forces. What challenges does the Ukrainian army have to overcome?

Supplying the Ukrainian armed forces with necessary goods such as ammunition, supplies, or food is not easy.

Due to the spatial extent of the Ukrainian defense line in the east of the country, the goods must be supplied from depots and warehouses to the deployed forces through additional intermediate bases. However, this is done, at least in the areas not yet occupied by Russia, under a low threat level, if we disregard the threat of long-range artillery or air attacks.

Another advantage is that the currently partially functioning economy can provide resources such as food or supplies.

When it comes to logistics, the importance of railway lines for the Russian army is often emphasized. Why is this so?

Due to the size and expanse of Russia, about 80 percent of goods are transported over land by railway. Russia has the third largest rail network in the world.

Just as the civilian economy relies on the railway, so do the Russian armed forces. The transportation of troops, equipment, ammunition, and fuel is largely done by rail. This is also practiced during major maneuvers and is therefore the most efficient and effective way to deploy Russian forces.

Due to the importance of the railway, the Russian armed forces also have special railway troops. Their task is to protect, operate, and repair railway lines.

But aren't railway tracks much easier to destroy than roads?

The railway is of great importance in supplying the Russian armed forces because it can transport larger quantities of goods. An advantage for the Russian armed forces is that the same gauge is used in Ukraine as in Russia. Furthermore, Russian trains can operate unrestricted in Ukraine in terms of railway technology, as the same operating and safety systems and the same power system are used.

If this operating system were disrupted by acts of sabotage, the Russian armed forces could still resume operations in a few days with the specially designated railway troops. However, if important railway bridges or switching plants are blown up, that route would be unusable for a longer period.

Blocking a road would only make sense where there are no detour options. For example, blowing up a bridge over a river can disrupt supply lines.

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