MOSCOW — A passenger train derailed in Russia’s Bryansk region late Saturday after a bridge collapsed, killing at least seven people and injuring 30 others, including two children, in what officials described as the result of “illegal interference” with transportation infrastructure.
The bridge collapse occurred in Bryansk, a region in western Russia that borders Ukraine, and resulted in the train slamming into the debris. Moscow Railways, in a statement, said the incident stemmed from unauthorized tampering with transport operations but did not elaborate on the nature of the interference.
Russia’s federal road transportation agency, Rosavtodor, confirmed that the destroyed bridge spanned the railway where the passenger train had been traveling at the time of the collapse.
Photographs released by Russian government agencies showed a grim scene of twisted railcars scattered across the tracks, surrounded by chunks of concrete and metal from the fallen bridge. Videos shared on social media captured the harrowing moments just before the collapse, including footage from nearby vehicles that narrowly avoided driving onto the bridge.
Bryansk Governor Alexander Bogomaz said rescue and emergency crews were at the scene, working to assist victims and clear the wreckage. “Everything is being done to provide all necessary assistance to the victims,” he stated in a Telegram post.
Officials have not publicly identified a culprit, but the incident has renewed suspicions of possible sabotage, particularly by pro-Ukrainian elements, which Moscow has previously accused of targeting its railway infrastructure amid the ongoing war in Ukraine.
Though Russian authorities stopped short of naming who was responsible, the term “illegal interference” has become a frequent euphemism in past sabotage cases tied to railway lines and military logistics in border regions.
The Bryansk region has witnessed several cross-border incidents since Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, and both Ukrainian and Russian media have reported attacks and explosions involving critical infrastructure.
In December 2023, Ukrainian outlets reported that Kyiv’s top intelligence agency had successfully executed two explosions on a key railway route in Siberia, crucial for trade between Russia and China. While Ukraine’s security services declined to confirm or comment on those operations, Russian Railways acknowledged at least one explosion, though the cause was not disclosed.
No official connection has been drawn between those past incidents and Saturday’s deadly derailment, and independent verification remains limited due to restricted access to the affected site.
The fatal accident raises further concerns about the vulnerability of Russian transportation networks, particularly those near strategic regions or along military supply routes. It also underscores the growing risk of sabotage as the war continues into its third year.
The Russian Investigative Committee has reportedly launched a formal probe into the derailment, and security has been heightened across major railway lines in the western regions of the country.
Authorities have not confirmed whether any explosives were involved, and as of Sunday morning, no arrests have been made, and no group has claimed responsibility for the bridge collapse.
The tragedy in Bryansk comes amid ongoing military operations and intelligence activity between Russia and Ukraine, with infrastructure sabotage becoming an increasingly reported tactic in the shadow war playing out beyond the frontlines.
As cleanup crews continue to work at the scene, and victims receive treatment in local hospitals, the Kremlin faces renewed pressure to secure transportation corridors vital for both civilian travel and military logistics.
