Concurrently with the import into Belarus of a significant volume of explosive materials (EM), in the period from September 1 to 17, 2025, the dispatch of empty cars from Russian Railways stations to the arsenals of the Ministry of Defence of Belarus for loading EM (ammunition) with subsequent shipment to Russia for the needs of the Ministry of Defence of the Russian Federation was arranged and executed.
The owner and sender of the empty cars is JSC “Federal Freight Company” (JSC “FFC”). The recipients are the arsenals, warehouses, and ammunition depots of the Ministry of Defence of Belarus. According to our information, during the specified period, a minimum of 66 railcars have already been supplied for loading: 30 gondola cars and 36 boxcars.
For reference: Federal Freight Company (JSC “FFC”) is one of the largest operators of freight rolling stock on the 1520 mm gauge network and a subsidiary of Russian Railways. The company specializes in providing railcars (including under operating and lease agreements), organizing bulk cargo transportation, freight forwarding, and services for maintaining rolling stock and private railway sidings. Its fleet primarily consists of gondola cars and boxcars, which allows for quickly fulfilling both “single-unit” and large-tonnage requests.
Based on our observations of military shipments from 2022–2025, it is FFC that most often provides railcars for military transportation for the Ministry of Defence of the Russian Federation: its rolling stock is regularly recorded when supplied for loading explosive materials/ammunition, as well as in mixed train consists with buffer railcars. This is explained by the scale of its fleet, operational access to loading stations, and readiness to work under special requirements for dangerous goods (hazard class 1).
List of stations and arsenals to which empty cars owned by JSC “FFC” were dispatched for loading explosive materials (EM) during the period September 1–17, 2025:
- To Bronnaya Gora station (Brest Division of Belarusian Railway) for the 46th Missile and Ammunition Arsenal (Military Unit 67878), 11 empty cars were sent from Moscow and Oktyabrskaya Railways stations, including:
– 5 gondola cars;
– 6 boxcars.
- To Dobrush station (Gomel Division of Belarusian Railway) for the 43rd Missile and Ammunition Arsenal (Military Unit 11724), 17 empty cars were sent from Moscow and Northern Railways stations, including:
– 10 gondola cars;
– 7 boxcars.
- To Bobr station (Minsk Division of Belarusian Railway) for the 391st Artillery Ammunition Base (Military Unit 29253), 17 empty cars were sent from Moscow and Northern Railways stations, including:
– 10 gondola cars;
– 7 boxcars.
- To Tsentrolit station (Gomel Division of Belarusian Railway) for the 1393rd Artillery Ammunition Depot (Military Unit 52208), 21 empty car was sent from Moscow Railway stations, including:
– 16 boxcars;
– 5 gondola cars.
According to preliminary data, the supply of empty cars for EM and their loading continues. For example, today, September 25, 2025, at 2:30 PM (Moscow time), at Pribor station another group of 10 boxcars owned by JSC “FFC” was recorded. A siding directly adjoins Pribor station, leading to the 1393rd Artillery Ammunition Depot (Military Unit 52208).
The indicated arsenals/bases store and maintain (according to profile and open data):
– 46th Missile and Ammunition Arsenal (Bronnaya Gora, Military Unit 67878) – storage and maintenance of artillery, mortar, and small arms ammunition, as well as MLRS rockets (transport-packaging containers, components). Includes powders/explosives, fuses/detonators, spare parts. There are sections for re-assembly/re-equipping artillery shells. One of the largest and “universal” arsenals. UN hazard class: 1.1–1.3.
– 43rd Missile and Ammunition Arsenal (Dobrush, Military Unit 11724) — a wide range of artillery, small arms, and missile ammunition (including MLRS rockets/TPC, components), powders/pyrotechnic compositions, ammunition elements (fuses, packaging, sealing). Official disposal and packaging maintenance work are noted. Also among the large universal sites. UN hazard class: 1.1–1.3.
– 391st Artillery Ammunition Base (Bobr, Military Unit 29253) – storage and preservation of artillery/mortar ammunition, small arms ammunition, components, and spare parts; routine operations (inspection, re-equipping, sealing). UN hazard class: 1.1–1.3.
– 1393rd Artillery Ammunition Depot (Tsentrolit/Pribor, Military Unit 52208) – storage of artillery/small arms ammunition and missiles in transport-packaging containers (TPC) (by indirect evidence), powders/explosives and ammunition elements; supply to regional units. UN hazard class: 1.1–1.3.
From all the above-mentioned arsenals, bases, and depots, mass export of ammunition for the needs of the Russian army had previously been carried out in 2022–2023. More details can be found in our material from that period.
To estimate possible loading volumes, let's provide average norms for the 1520 mm gauge network in a consolidated form. One four-axle boxcar can accommodate: up to 792 152-mm rounds (792 boxes), up to 1,184 122-mm rounds (592 boxes for D-30/2S1), for 120-mm mortar rounds (2S12) — up to 1,468 rounds (734 boxes), for 122-mm BM-21 rockets — up to 352 rockets. A gondola car is estimated to hold more: up to 981 152-mm rounds, up to 1,332 122-mm rounds, up to 1,784 120-mm mortar rounds, and up to 404 122-mm rockets. In practice, gondola cars are often used for oversized cargo and special containers (including transport-launch/transport-packaging containers with missiles), so the actual loading may differ from the calculated amount and decrease due to safety requirements for EM.
We continue to monitor the topic; as new information becomes available, the material will be updated.
