Pro-Ukraine partisans have reportedly set fire to a signal cabinet near the Russian-occupied city of Yasynuvata in Donetsk Oblast, disrupting Russian military logistics. The Atesh partisan group claimed the attack, which targeted a railway line used for fuel transport, occurred on June 28. The group emphasized Ukraine’s sovereignty and stated Donetsk will remain Ukrainian.
Yasynuvata, located approximately 22 kilometers from the occupied city of Donetsk, is considered a major railway junction in the region. According to the group, the sabotaged section is located near Russian military units, warehouses, and industrial facilities. Atesh said the attack disrupted the delivery of a train carrying fuel for Russian forces, a critical supply line for the occupying forces.
The Kyiv Independent could not verify these claims, which highlights the challenges of independently assessing partisan reports. However, the group has a history of conducting sabotage attacks in Russia and Ukraine’s Russian-occupied territories, including a similar incident on the Volnovakha-Mariupol railway in early June. The attack was made on Ukraine’s Constitution Day, which the group used as a symbolic reminder of the country’s independence and the determination of its people to resist occupation.
Such attacks are part of a broader strategy to weaken Russian military operations in the region. By targeting infrastructure essential for the movement of troops and supplies, partisans aim to disrupt the logistics of the occupying forces and undermine their ability to sustain operations. The attack on the railway line near Yasynuvata underscores the ongoing conflict and the lengths to which pro-Ukraine groups will go to challenge Russian control over Ukrainian territory.