Unnamed U.S. officials believe Russia is preparing a significant multilateral strike against Ukraine in response to recent attacks on railways and airbases.
Moscow has yet to respond seriously to the incidents, but a response involving missiles and drones is expected within days, according to sources.
Government buildings are likely targets in an attempt to send a clear message to Kyiv.
Recent incidents include:
- On the night of June 1, a road bridge collapsed in the Bryansk region, derailing a passenger train and resulting in seven deaths and over one hundred injuries. Authorities classified the incident as a terrorist attack.
- Also in the Kursk region, a bridge collapsed under a freight train, injuring the driver and two assistants. This bombing was also classified as a terrorist attack.
- On June 3, an attempted sabotage was reported near the Crimean bridge.
- On June 5, a bombing occurred on the railway in the Voronezh region, causing delays to more than 25 trains, but no injuries.
- On June 6, in the Prokhorovsky district of the Belgorod region, a spare locomotive derailed, with preliminary information suggesting an explosive device was planted under the rails. No injuries were reported.
- On June 1, the Russian Ministry of Defense reported that Kyiv committed a terrorist attack using FPV drones on five airfields in the Murmansk, Irkutsk, Ivanovo, Ryazan, and Amur regions. Aircraft caught fire in the Murmansk and Irkutsk regions but were quickly extinguished. Several participants in the attacks were detained. No military or civilian personnel were injured.