Russian armoured train Yenisei

The Russian armoured train Yenisei is an armoured train currently in use by the Russia in their ongoing invasion of Ukraine in 2022. According to Ukrainian sources, Yenisei was constructed out of parts stolen from Ukrainian Railways in the Kharkiv region.[2]

Yenisei
TypeArmoured train
Place of originUkraine
Russia
Service history
In service2022–Present
Used byRussian Federation
Wars2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine
Production history
DesignerUkrainian Railways
ManufacturerUkrainian Railways
No. built1
Specifications
Length131 m (429.7 ft)
Diameter1,435mm gauge [1]
Passengers1,000 (claimed)
Main
armament
1x 30 mm autocannon 2A42 (BMP-2)
Secondary
armament
1x ZU-23-2 cannon
Few dozen Machine Gun slots
Engine2x ChME3-type locomotive

Specifications and details

The train is protected by armoured plates of unknown thickness and is designed to transport materials, to restore and demine tracks that are damaged, and for engineering reconnaissance.[3] However, the train also has a ZU-23-2 and a mounted BMP-2,[2] and thus is also suspected of being prepared for combat operations. Russian sources dispute Yenisei's role as a combat vehicle, claiming rather that the train is used for humanitarian purposes such as the delivery of water, medicines and food for civilians in Donbas, and evacuating over a thousand people from the combat zones.[4]

The train is currently made up of at least two ChME3-type locomotives plus eight wagons (two of which are platforms from the BMP-2 and ZU-23-2).[5][6] On a whole, Yenisei is made up of two empty platform wagons for cargo, logistical and construction purposes at the front and end of the train, a platform wagon mounting the BMP-2 as the 'head', followed by an anti-air wagon mounting the ZU-23-2 gun alongside an enclosed cabin with six machine-gun slits, the first ChME3-type locomotive, a machine gun wagon with more gun slits, a goods wagon, another machine-gun wagon and the second ChME3-type locomotive.[7][8] In terms of length, each wagon is made from the standard United Wagon Company Sgmmns 40’ flat car, which is 40 feet long.[1] Combined, Yenisei is a 131 meters long.

Like Volga, this is not the first armoured train used in the Russo-Ukrainian War, as a few other armoured trains were recorded transporting logistical and military goods through Crimea in March 2022.[9][10]

See also

References
  1. "Russian flat cars obtain ERA certification". Railwaypro. 2 June 2021. Retrieved 23 June 2023.
  2. "PHOTO: The Russians assembled an armoured train from Ukrzaliznytsia cars stolen in the Kharkiv region". Rail Target. Retrieved 8 August 2022.
  3. "What is the armored train "Yenisei", involved in a special operation in Ukraine". Gaming Deputy. Retrieved 8 August 2022.
  4. "Footage of the work of the Russian armored train "Yenisei" in Ukraine appeared on the Web". Chernayakobra. Retrieved 8 August 2022.
  5. "The Russians have developed an armored train "Yenisei" from diesel locomotives stolen in the Kharkiv region". newsreadonline. 28 June 2022. Retrieved 8 August 2022.
  6. "Video of the Russian "Yenisei" armoured train operating in Ukraine with ZU-23-2 cannons and BMP-2". Rob Lee Twitter. Retrieved 8 August 2022.
  7. "Russian special armored train "Yenisei"". Youtube. Retrieved 8 August 2022.
  8. "Russian military Central MD "Yenisei" armored train in the zone of operation in Ukraine". Youtube. Retrieved 8 August 2022.
  9. "Russian 'Armored Train' Equipped With Automatic Cannons & Painted With 'Z' Mark Joins The Ukraine Invasion". Eurasian Times. Retrieved 8 August 2022.
  10. Trevithick, Joseph. "A Russian Armored Train Has Joined The Invasion Of Ukraine". The War Zone. The Drive. Retrieved 7 March 2022.
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