Undoubtedly, the measures taken by the special services of the two countries to conceal the import of Russian tactical nuclear weapon (TNW)* components into Belarus are effective. And some of these transports, which took place in September 2023, the authorities managed to conceal, albeit not for long.
Today, we are supplementing and clarifying the information we previously published (dated September 12, 2023) regarding the cargo of this category that has already been imported.
In accordance with the initial Russian-Belarusian plans, the import of TNW components by rail was to be carried out in two stages: in June 2023 and in November 2023. During these stages, a total of 32 railcars with TNW components and their escort were planned for delivery. But in addition to this, another 18 various special-purpose and escort railcars were additionally planned and delivered to Belarus.
There were other transports of TNW components. New data concerns the period from September 15 to September 24, 2023, during which a total of 26 railcars were transported from Russian Railways stations Cheboksary (Gorky Railway) and Potanino (South Ural Railway) to Belarus, both loaded directly with TNW components and intended for personnel transport, escort, and buffer railcars. The destination station for the railcars is Prudok (Vitebsk Division of the Belarusian Railway – NOD-6).
Near Prudok station is the 2631st aviation base for missile armament and ammunition storage – military unit 94017.
Delivery was carried out via the interstate junction point (MGSP) Zaolsha with further travel through Vitebsk station to Prudok station. Currently, MGSP Zaolsha is a lightly loaded point – only about two pairs of trains per day. Therefore, they apparently chose a non-standard route to avoid attracting attention.
The travel time from Zaolsha station to Vitebsk station is about 1 hour 10 minutes, and from Vitebsk station to Prudok station is also 1 hour 10 minutes. Thus, taking into account the need to change locomotive crews at Vitebsk station, the total travel time for railcars with TNW components in Belarus was about 3.5 hours.
Based on information about the dispatch of railcars and their arrival at Belarusian Railway, it follows that the specified number of rolling stock units was delivered in two groups:
- The first group – dispatch on September 15 – 16 railcars (10 loaded, 6 empty) from Cheboksary station, arrival on September 22;
- The second group – dispatch on September 18 – 10 railcars (4 loaded, 6 empty) from Potanino station, arrival on September 24.
The cargo belongs to the class “Explosive materials” and is listed as “Other ammunition for military purposes” and “Ammunition, except those listed above.”
We were particularly interested in the carefully concealed organizational and financial scheme of these transports. While JSC “RZD Logistics”** and BTLC are the freight forwarders for TNW components on Russian Railways and Belarusian Railway, respectively, it appears that the main beneficiary (organizer – customer) of these transports is Joint LLC “TRANSRAIL – BCh”.
Joint LLC “TRANSRAIL – BCh” – a joint Belarusian-Swiss limited liability company (hereinafter – TRANSRAIL-BCh) appeared in Belarus in 1994. Since then, it has been headed by the permanent director and representative of the main Russian founder, Joint Stock Company “Transrail Holding” (Transrail Holding A.G., established by the Ministry of Railways of the USSR in 1989), Ms. Kim Suk Cha.
The second founder is Belarusian Railway with a share, according to unconfirmed data, up to 25%. It is noteworthy that representatives of Belarusian Railway in TRANSRAIL-BCh over the years included: Head of Freight Operations and Foreign Economic Activity (M) E. Stankevich, First Deputy Head of Belarusian Railway V. Mikhailyuk, and currently again Head of Service M – S. Pristavko.
We do not yet know who stands behind and manages the financial flows for these military cargo (TNW) transports, involving essentially exclusively state-owned companies (Russian Railways, RZD Logistics, Belarusian Railway, BTLC). However, everything in its own time, and we will certainly share what we learn.
Another interesting fact is hidden in the early activities of TRANSRAIL-BCh. This company, the only one not part of the Belarusian Railway structure, was illegally granted the right (with a corresponding telegraphic index) to issue telegraphic orders for forwarded cargo to other legal entities and Belarusian Railway subdivisions (stations, NODs, etc.). At that time, and for many years thereafter, even the 100% Belarusian Railway-owned TEP “Belintertrans” (transformed much later, in 2009, into the Republican Transport and Forwarding Unitary Enterprise “BELINTERTRANS – Transport and Logistics Center of the Belarusian Railway” (BTLC), more details here) did not have such a right.
One can guess the depth of corruption among Belarusian Railway leaders and TRANSRAIL-BCh, given that a legally external organization is granted the right to issue legally significant telegraphic orders that directly influence cargo transportation, legal rights to which are held only by the sender, recipient, and carrier (Belarusian Railway)!!! This right was quietly and informally revoked only after 15 years (or so) and only several years later was it given, as they like to state, to the official freight forwarder of Belarusian Railway – BTLC.
But, apparently, TRANSRAIL-BCh successfully performs its corrupt functions. At least, for its Russian masters. Although without “breakthroughs” (apparently, they do not want to attract attention), this company's business has grown since 2019: among all Belarusian Railway freight forwarders (in a “closed” rating), its share increased from 2% to 3% (the volume of transportation payments for forwarded cargo in 2022 amounted to about 15 million US dollars).
Stealthily, under the guise of freight forwarders from Russian Railways and Belarusian Railway (JSC “RZD Logistics” and BTLC), TRANSRAIL-BCh performs the function of a hidden organizer and financial “intermediary” in the supply of not only TNW, but also weapons, ammunition, and other military cargo.
Information on newly identified shipments of railcars with military cargo organized by TRANSRAIL-BCh:
— With new military equipment that the Russian military-industrial complex sold to the Ministry of Defence of the Republic of Belarus:
- Slide 1 – Information on dispatched groups of railcars from Arzamas-II station (Gorky Railway) to Brest-Vostochny station (Brest Division of the Belarusian Railway). Consignor: Arzamas Machine-Building Plant. Consignee: Military Unit 92616 (38th Separate Guards Air Assault Brigade). Cargo: new BTR-82A and BTR-80K. We reported on this transport earlier.
- Slide 2 – Information on dispatched groups of railcars from Penza-IV station (Kuybyshev Railway) to Baranovichi-Central station (Baranovichi Division of the Belarusian Railway). Cargo: wheeled military equipment.
- Slide 3 – Information on dispatched groups of railcars from Vozhoy station (Gorky Railway) to Baranovichi-Central station (Baranovichi Division of the Belarusian Railway). Cargo: wheeled and tracked military equipment.
- Slide 4 – Information on dispatched groups of railcars from Arzamas-II station (Gorky Railway) to Lososno station (Baranovichi Division of the Belarusian Railway). Consignor: Arzamas Machine-Building Plant. Consignee: Military Unit 51171 (557th Engineering Brigade).
- Slide 5 – Information on dispatched groups of railcars from Arzamas-II station (Gorky Railway) to Ozerishche station (Minsk Division of the Belarusian Railway). Consignor: Arzamas Machine-Building Plant. Cargo: wheeled military equipment.
— With ammunition that the Russian military-industrial complex sold to the Ministry of Defence of the Republic of Belarus:
- Slide 1 – Information on dispatched groups of railcars (carrying explosive materials) from Nolka station (Gorky Railway) to Osipovichi-I station (Mogilev Division of the Belarusian Railway). Cargo: Ammunition for firearms.
- Slide 2 – Information on dispatched groups of railcars (carrying explosive materials) from Girsovo station (Gorky Railway) to Baranovichi-Polesskie station (Baranovichi Division of the Belarusian Railway). Cargo: Air-delivered munitions.
- Slide 3 – Information on dispatched groups of railcars (carrying explosive materials) from Barnaul station (West Siberian Railway) to Cherveno station (Minsk Division of the Belarusian Railway). Consignor: Barnaul Cartridge Plant. Cargo: Small arms ammunition.
- Slide 4 – Information on dispatched groups of railcars (carrying explosive materials) from Barnaul station (West Siberian Railway) to Cherveno station (Minsk Division of the Belarusian Railway). Consignor: Barnaul Cartridge Plant. Cargo: Small arms ammunition.
According to newly identified, but possibly incomplete data, from May 2021 to September 2023, 127 railcars with military cargo were imported into Belarus with the help of this company. “One man's war is another man's profit”…
* For the purposes of this article, tactical nuclear weapon (TNW) components refer to both tactical nuclear weapons themselves (warheads) and their components and delivery vehicles (missiles, artillery shells, etc.), as well as associated equipment for safety and operation
** Joint Stock Company “RZD Logistics” – a Russian transport and logistics company, a subsidiary of JSC “Russian Railways”. Established in 2010. The company's central office is located in Moscow
