Thread by @TrentTelenko

I am beginning to think we are seeing Russian locomotive operators abandon their engines on the lines approaching Kursk Oblast.

Guys get stuck in train traffic jams, then hear directly, or from engine ahead, there is artillery fire or sabotage groups. Then they leave.

Russian Rail Seizure🧵
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If this is true, the train congestion from these abandonments will be visible from space.

Remember, the Kursk fighting for Russia is an "ATO" not an "SMO." ATO = Anti-Terrorism Operation

This means the FSB and not the Russian military is nominally in
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...charge of FSB Border Guard, Army, Rosvigardia, police & local militia units.

The problem is there is no practiced chain of command between these formations and Russian railway employees are not under SMO military discipline/punishments'.

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ATO's means Russian train crew can bug out with few/none of the repercussions of an SMO.

This would change if Putin made this Ukrainian incursion a full on "Defense of the Motherland" war.

However, Putin seems to fear for the stability of his regime if he does that.

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Whatever is causing it -- train crew running , maintenance failure or administrative chaos -- rail movement into and out of Kursk has seizing up

This has prevented the Russian artillery, its "God of War," from entering the lists en mass after a week of fighting.

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