From December 20 to 22, 2022, troop trains carrying equipment moved across the territory of Belarus, creating an illusion of military activity. This strategic technique was likely intended to mislead a potential adversary by demonstrating an appearance of numerous and active forces.
Movement details:
🕐 Polonka Station (Baranovichi Division of Belarusian Railway):
A troop train dispatched on December 20, 2022 from Polonka station to Luninets station returned to the originating station (Polonka).
On December 21, 2022, at 4:10 PM, a troop train with military equipment loaded on flatcars and passenger cars carrying Russian Armed Forces personnel was dispatched from Luninets station (Baranovichi Division of Belarusian Railway) to Polonka station (Baranovichi Division of Belarusian Railway).
❗️The troop train stood at Luninets station without any operations conducted on the train for 23 hours and 45 minutes.
📍 The troop train arrived at Polonka station on December 22, 2022, at 7:26 AM.
📍 Unloading of equipment was completed at 12:15 PM.
Route of the troop train to Polonka station: Luninets → Pinsk → Yanov-Polessky → Drahichyn → Kobryn → Zhabinka → Oranchitsy → Bereza-Kartuzskaya → Bronnaya Gora → Ivatsevichy → Lesnaya → Baranovichi-Central → Polonka.
As a reminder, the troop train consisted of 51 railcars in total, including:
- 42 flatcars (with loaded military equipment: • 23 T-80 tanks, • 19 units of wheeled cargo transport);
- 7 boxcars (with escort personnel, equipment, and explosive materials);
- 2 passenger cars (with personnel: ≈ 100 people).
🕑 Zaslonovo Station (Minsk Division of Belarusian Railway):
A troop train dispatched on December 20, 2022 from Zaslonovo station to Polonka station will return to the originating station (Zaslonovo).
On December 21, 2022, at 8:56 PM, a troop train with military equipment loaded on flatcars and passenger cars carrying Russian Armed Forces personnel was dispatched from Polonka station (Baranovichi Division of Belarusian Railway) to Zaslonovo station (Minsk Division of Belarusian Railway).
❗️The troop train stood at Polonka station without any operations conducted on the train for 15 hours and 20 minutes.
📍 The troop train arrived at Zaslonovo station according to “plan” on December 22, 2022, at 9:50 PM.
📍 Unloading of equipment was completed on December 23, 2022, at 2:00 PM.
Route of the troop train to Zaslonovo station: Polonka → Baranovichi-Central → Baranovichi-Polesskie → Kletsk → Slutsk → Falichi → Asipovichy-I → Yelizovo → Mogilev-II → Chervichno → Orsha-Central → Zaslonovo.
As a reminder, the troop train consists of 51 railcars in total, including:
- 46 flatcars (with loaded military equipment: • 31 T-72B3 and T-80 tanks; • 13 units of wheeled cargo transport; 1 unit of BTR-80 and 1 tracked engineering vehicle);
- 3 boxcars (with escort personnel, equipment, and explosive materials);
- 2 passenger cars (with personnel: ≈ 100 people).
The movement of trains “back and forth” across the territory of Belarus had strategic significance. Such tactics are actively used in military operations to create an appearance of activity and numerous forces. This contributes to misleading the adversary, diverting their resources to reassessing the situation, and maintaining constant tension.
This tactic is taught in military educational institutions, including the General Staff Faculty of the Armed Forces of the Republic of Belarus. It ensures the creation of a false impression of actual military activity and troop strength, which is an important element of military strategy and operational planning.
