Additional Coverage:
Several Bridges Collapse in Russia, Raising Questions
A series of bridge collapses in Russia’s western regions near the Ukrainian border has left at least seven dead and dozens injured, sparking investigations and raising tensions amidst the ongoing conflict.
The most serious incident occurred late Saturday in the Bryansk region, where a road bridge collapsed onto a moving passenger train, killing at least seven people and injuring 66, including three children. Bryansk Governor Alexander Bogomaz attributed the collapse to an explosion, stating the bridge had been “blown up.”
The train, carrying nearly 400 passengers, was en route to Moscow. Images from the scene depict a chaotic landscape of derailed carriages, debris, and emergency responders.
Another bridge collapse occurred overnight in the Kursk region, also bordering Ukraine. This incident involved a freight train, resulting in injuries to one of the train drivers and a subsequent fire. Acting Governor Alexander Khinshtein reported that part of the train fell onto a highway running beneath the bridge.
Additionally, railway workers in the Bryansk region discovered damage to a separate section of railway track, though no casualties were reported. The Kremlin confirmed that President Putin was kept abreast of the incidents throughout the night. Investigations are underway to determine the causes of the collapses.
A third, separate incident involved the reported explosion of a Russian military freight train in Ukraine’s Zaporizhzhia region, further complicating the situation. While Ukrainian officials have not claimed responsibility for the bridge collapses, the incidents come amid escalating tensions and cross-border attacks. The Russian Investigative Committee initially labeled the bridge collapses as “terrorist” acts caused by explosions but later retracted those statements, saying investigations were ongoing.