In previous publications, we examined the territory of the former Krichev-6 airbase in the context of statements regarding the alleged deployment of the Russian Oreshnik MRBM system in Belarus. It was noted then that the available materials do not confirm the direct delivery of self-propelled launchers of this system to Belarus by railway transport. At the same time, the Krichev-6 territory itself was prepared to receive military cargo: under the guise of a “logistics center,” an access track, track layout, and loading/unloading infrastructure were created there, allowing for fairly efficient processing of train consists at the new military infrastructure facility and performing loading/unloading operations outside public station areas, excluding the presence of unauthorized persons.
We managed to establish from where and in what consist a large troop train from the Russian Federation arrived in the area of the former Krichev-6 airbase at the end of December 2025 — approximately between December 20 and 29.
According to the transportation documents, the destination station was Krichev I of the Mogilev Division of Belarusian Railway, and its departure was carried out from Kapustin Yar station of the Privolzhskaya Railway.
Upon arrival at Krichev I station, the train locomotive was uncoupled, and the further delivery of the troop train to the Krichev-6 territory was carried out by shunting with the involvement of a station locomotive. The procedure for delivering train consists to the territory of this facility was described in the relevant previous publication. Currently, the changes are that when entering this access track, movement is carried out under full monitoring of the train consist by the Belarusian Railway station and dispatching staff due to the presence of an interlocked route and remote control of the electrically operated turnout.
The choice of destination station in this case is of fundamental importance. Krichev I is the closest railway point to the former Krichev-6 airbase and the facility created on its territory, officially designated as a “logistics center.” The departure station — Kapustin Yar* — also deserves special attention, as this area is associated with the Russian testing, missile, and support infrastructure of the Ministry of Defence of the Russian Federation.
The sender of this troop train is the 4th State Central Inter-Service Test Range (military unit 15644). The recipient was the Military Transport Directorate of the Armed Forces of the Republic of Belarus**.
For reference:
* Kapustin Yar is the area of the 4th State Central Inter-Service Test Range of the Ministry of Defence of the Russian Federation in the Astrakhan region. The test range has historically been used for testing ballistic, anti-aircraft, and other missile systems, as well as for pre-launch preparation of missile armaments. In addition to its testing function, Kapustin Yar is used by Russia as a site for combat launches: it was from here that ballistic missiles were launched at the territory of Ukraine, including the use of the Oreshnik MRBM. The Ukrainian side also reported strikes on the test range facilities, where, according to the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, pre-flight preparation of intercontinental and medium-range ballistic missiles was carried out.
** The Military Transport Directorate of the Armed Forces of the Republic of Belarus (VOSO AF RB) is a structure responsible for organizing military transportation by rail, road, air, and other types of transport in the interests of the Armed Forces. In the context of railway transport, VOSO ensures the planning, processing, escort, and coordination of the movement of troop trains, equipment, weapons, ammunition, and personnel, as well as interaction with Belarusian Railway and other transport organizations.
The train consist included 54 flatcars with cargo registered under ETSNG (Unified Tariff and Statistical Nomenclature of Goods) 693087 as “other goods not listed in the alphabetical index,” 6 boxcars with a similar cargo code, and 1 boxcar with cargo under ETSNG 693142 — “explosive materials,” as well as passenger cars with personnel.
According to available information, military equipment was transported on flatcars, equipment in boxcars, and cartridges and other ammunition in a separate railcar.
Currently, this is the only troop train we have recorded that arrived directly at the military infrastructure facility in Krichev-6.
As of mid-May 2026, the delivered contingent had not left this facility; no return shipment of equipment or property was recorded. However, no new troop trains have arrived in this direction since the aforementioned December shipment. Thus, at present, the delivered train consist of more than 61 railcars is the only railway shipment to the Krichev-6 base after the construction of railway infrastructure.
