Import of Russian Weaponry and Ammunition to Belarus by Railway Transport in the First 9 Months of 2024

In a previous publication, we presented information on the export of military cargo from the territory of Belarus to the territory of Russia by railway transport. These cargoes included various types of ammunition. Concurrently with the export, supplies of Russian weaponry and ammunition were made from Russia to Belarus. One of the destinations was Prudok station (Vitebsk Division of Belarusian Railway – NOD-6), which has a spur line to the railway sidings of military unit 94017 of the Ministry of Defence of the Republic of Belarus (2631st Aviation Base for Storage of Missile Armaments and Ammunition).

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From June to August of the current year, a total of 49 railcars were delivered by railway to the aforementioned aviation arsenal, of which 6 boxcars were intended to carry escort personnel, and, accordingly, 5 boxcars and 38 gondola cars, whose cargo corresponded to hazard class 1 – explosives. The estimated weight of the delivered cargo (missile armaments) is approximately 1,100 tonnes.

The senders from the Russian side were:

• military unit 58661-51 – 12th Arsenal for Storage of Aviation Munitions of the Russian Air Force (Patrikeevo station, Kuybyshev Railway (Kbsh) of Russian Railways);
• military unit 55443 – 13th Arsenal of the Main Missile and Artillery Directorate of the Ministry of Defence of the Russian Federation (Kotovo station, Oktyabrskaya Railway (Okt) of Russian Railways);
• federal state institution – Joint Strategic Command of the Southern Military District (Martsevo station, North Caucasus Railway (S-Kav) of Russian Railways);
• military unit 75392 of the Ministry of Defence of the Russian Federation – 559th Guards Bomber Aviation Regiment (Morozovskaya station, North Caucasus Railway (S-Kav) of Russian Railways);
• military unit 49371 – 859th Center for Combat Application and Retraining of Naval Aviation Flight Personnel of the Russian Navy (Yeysk station, S-Kav);
• JSC “Plastmass Plant”* (Potanino station, South Ural Railway (Yu-Ur) of Russian Railways).

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In all episodes of these deliveries, the aforementioned military unit 94017 of the Ministry of Defence of the Republic of Belarus (Prudok station, NOD-6 of Belarusian Railway) acted as the consignee from the Belarusian side.

Deliveries from the specified Russian Railways stations to Prudok station were carried out in the following volumes and under certain special transportation conditions:

It is noteworthy that the above-mentioned shipments of missile armaments and explosives to Belarus from Russia were carried out practically in the same period, during which parallel deliveries of Belarusian armaments, ammunition, and equipment were made to the 23rd Arsenal of the Main Missile and Artillery Directorate of the Ministry of Defence of the Russian Federation in the form of so-called “fraternal mutual assistance.” Given this circumstance, it can be assumed that this was an exchange for weaponry more necessary for Russia at that time. And the presence of Russian missile ammunition in Belarus creates an additional reserve and relatively safe storage.

Additionally, we note that the indicated import of ammunition by railway this year is not the only military transportation in the direction of Russian Railways → Belarusian Railway.

Deliveries of various special-purpose equipment, radar equipment, as well as other ammunition to various Belarusian storage arsenals were made to the Ministry of Defence of the Republic of Belarus from the Russian Federation, destined for various military facilities in Belarus, during the first 9 months of 2024.

For example, some deliveries of explosives from Russia to Belarusian Railway stations were in the following volumes:

Also, in the first 9 months of 2024, deliveries of a certain amount of military materials, equipment, and machinery were carried out in the following volumes:

In this publication, we do not include data on cargo that traveled as part of troop trains arriving from the Russian Federation with personnel of the Armed Forces of the Republic of Belarus, from training grounds located near Kapustin Yar and Ashuluk stations, as well as from the 244th Combined Arms Training Center (Prudboy station).

For the first 9 months of 2024, no import of weaponry or other equipment to Russian military bases located in the Republic of Belarus was carried out by railway transport. The only transportation was from Arkhangelsk and Solvychegodsk stations (Northern Railway) to Baranovichi-Tsentralnye station (NOD-2, Belarusian Railway) to military unit 03522, which services the Volga 70M6 radar station. The cargo was gasoil in the amount of 25 tank cars. The sender of the cargo was: Federal State Institution “Joint Strategic Command of the Northern Fleet” (FKU OSK Northern Fleet).

We continue to monitor the situation in this area. As new information becomes available, appropriate additions and clarifications will be made.

* JSC “Plastmass Plant”, located in Kopeysk (Chelyabinsk region), specializes in the production of industrial explosives (IE), such as booster charges and emulsion IEs. The company's products are actively used in the mining industry, and the plant also disposes of ammunition.
** JSC “VMP AVITEK” is a Russian enterprise engaged in the production of products for the aviation, space, and defence industries. Key areas include the development and production of guided missile systems, control systems for aviation complexes, components for missile and spacecraft, as well as products for civilian needs.
*** JSC “Ural Transport Machine-Building Plant” (UZTM) is one of the leading enterprises in the Russian Federation, specializing in the development and production of heavy transport equipment and armaments. The plant produces military equipment, as well as railway equipment and products for the metallurgical industry.
**** PJSC “Scientific and Production Association “Almaz” (NPO “Almaz”) is a Russian enterprise specializing in the development and production of anti-aircraft missile systems and air defence complexes. The organization is a leading developer of air defence technologies, including the S-300 and S-400 series of complexes.

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