By Russian authorities reported Wednesday that a freight train derailed overnight in the Belgorod region of southwestern Russia, near the Ukrainian border, alleging it was caused by a “terrorist act.”
The incident occurred in the Novooskolsky district, approximately 50 kilometers (31 miles) from the Ukrainian border. A locomotive and several wagons derailed shortly before midnight due to unspecified “interference,” according to the regional branch of state-owned Russian Railways.
South East Railways, the operator, stated there were no casualties, and efforts to restore rail traffic were underway Wednesday morning. The company reported that 11 empty railcars were affected, while the train’s driver and assistant escaped injury.
Russia’s Investigative Committee, responsible for probing major crimes, announced that its transportation division had launched a criminal investigation into terrorism, citing significant property damage.
Unverified reports from Baza, a Telegram news channel with alleged ties to Russian security services, claimed the train struck an explosive device.
This derailment follows a series of suspicious fires and derailments across Russia’s rail network in recent months. While Kyiv has not claimed responsibility for Wednesday’s incident, Russian authorities have previously blamed such occurrences on Ukraine and its allies.
The location and timing of the derailment have raised concerns about potential cross-border activities related to the ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine. However, official sources have not provided specific evidence linking the incident to Ukrainian forces or their supporters.
Russian Railways and security services continue to investigate the cause of the derailment, with heightened attention to rail security in border regions.
