Deadly Train Accidents in Russia’s Bryansk and Kursk Regions Following Bridge Collapses
At least seven people have lost their lives and dozens more were injured after two separate bridge collapses triggered catastrophic train accidents overnight in Russia’s western regions near the Ukrainian border, authorities confirmed Sunday.
The first incident occurred in the Bryansk region, where a road bridge suddenly gave way and fell onto the railway tracks, causing a passenger train en route to Moscow to derail. This tragic accident claimed seven lives, including passengers aboard the train, and left at least 66 individuals wounded, among them three children.
In a separate but related event, a rail bridge collapsed in the neighboring Kursk region, causing a freight train to derail and injuring the locomotive driver. Officials reported that part of the freight train fell onto the road beneath the bridge, resulting in leg injuries for one of the drivers and hospitalizing the entire crew.
Details of the Bryansk Passenger Train Disaster
The ill-fated passenger train was traveling from the town of Klimovo to Moscow when it collided with the collapsed bridge in the Vygonichskyi district of Bryansk, a region approximately 100 kilometers from the Ukrainian border. Videos circulating on social media captured harrowing scenes of emergency responders navigating the twisted wreckage of the Russian Railways-operated train, with distressing sounds and cries for help audible in the background.
Alexander Bogomaz, governor of the Bryansk region, confirmed the death toll and expressed his condolences while assuring that rescue efforts were underway. Russian Railways also confirmed the train’s route and the accident location, which involved a federal highway bridge.
Kursk Freight Train Derailment
Meanwhile, in the Kursk region’s Zheleznogorsk district, the collapse of a rail bridge caused a freight train derailment late Saturday night. Governor Alexander Khinshtein reported that the freight locomotive partially fell onto the roadway beneath the bridge, seriously injuring one of the drivers. The entire crew was promptly hospitalized for treatment.
Investigation and Unclear Causes
Russian prosecutors have opened investigations into both incidents, though no official causes have been publicly disclosed. Initially, Moscow Railways suggested “illegal interference” as a possible factor behind the Bryansk bridge collapse. However, this statement was later removed from their communications, leaving the actual cause unclear.
Context: Tensions and Sabotage Amid Russia-Ukraine Conflict
Since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, several sabotage attacks have targeted Russia’s critical railway infrastructure, which plays a strategic role in transporting military equipment and personnel. Moscow has frequently accused Kyiv of orchestrating such attacks, while Ukraine maintains these railways are legitimate military targets due to their use in the ongoing conflict.
The Bryansk, Kursk, and Belgorod regions, which border Ukraine, have experienced frequent cross-border clashes including shelling, missile strikes, drone incursions, and covert operations by Ukrainian forces. The recent train accidents add to a pattern of disruption affecting the area’s transport networks.
Emergency Response and Current Situation
Russian emergency services swiftly deployed teams to the Bryansk accident site, while repair trains have been dispatched by Russian Railways to restore rail traffic. Ambulances were observed at Moscow’s Kievsky railway station preparing to receive injured passengers, highlighting the scale of the crisis.
No immediate official response came from Ukrainian authorities regarding these incidents.
Sources: News Agencies