As Russian President Vladimir Putin’s 3-day plan to subdue Ukraine runs into its 63rd day, Russia and the rest of the world continue to be shocked by the stalwart resistance of Ukraine. Unbeknownst to the world, there is a small group of Belarusian Saboteurs who are helping the Ukrainians fight off the Russians.

There are two generally accepted reasons why the Ukrainians have been able to hold out for this long. First is the unexpected capability and morale of Ukrainian fighters, who were more prepared to fight than most would have predicted. Second is the poor performance of the Russian army in Ukraine who the experts grossly overrated.

A covert network of Belarusian hackers, rail workers, and security force defectors have been working behind the scenes in their home country to cut off the Russian invasion force from much-needed supplies during the first phase of the war when the Russians were trying to invade Kyiv. Particularly, the group was also part of the reason why the 40-mile Russian convoy had stalled just outside of Kyiv.

SOFREP previously reported on the Ukrainian Special Forces, which used claymores to destroy the convoy, and the elite drone unit Aerorozvidka, which attacked the 40-mile Russian convoy with drones while they were freezing and starving to death.

The infamous 40-mile Russian convoy which was reportedly stopped by Ukrainian Special Forces. The Belarusian saboteurs also contributed to the Russians' inability to provide the convoy with supplies (space.com). Source: https://www.space.com/russia-ukraine-invasion-convoy-3d-satellite-video
The infamous 40-mile Russian convoy which was reportedly stopped by Ukrainian Special Forces. The Belarusian saboteurs also contributed to the Russians’ inability to provide the convoy with supplies (space.com)

These saboteurs attacked a series of railway links in Belarus that connect Russia to Ukraine. The group targeted control panels which were essential in running the rail systems. The attacks proved to be simple but effective, resulting in a deadlock that lasted for several days in the train system. This forced the Russian troops to redirect their supply lines by the road.

The network has been at work since the first days of the invasion. Although it is difficult to quantify their contributions, disrupting the signaling systems will often force trains to slow down to a crawl and restrict the number of cars in operation.

“Given the Russian reliance on trains, I’m sure it contributed to some of the problems they had in the north. It would have slowed down their ability to move,” a research fellow at the U.K.-based Royal United Services Institute, Emily Ferris, said. “They couldn’t push further into Ukrainian territory and snarled their supply lines because they had to rely on trucks.”

The disruptions also bought the Ukrainian fighters time to evaluate the Russian invasion and adopt an appropriate strategy for its defense.