Russian authorities are investigating mysterious explosions that collapsed two bridges in western Russia, killing at least seven people and injuring dozens more. The incidents occurred in regions bordering Ukraine, raising questions about potential sabotage amid ongoing tensions in the area.
According to NPR, Russia's Investigative Committee initially stated that explosions caused both bridges to collapse but later edited its statement to remove references to explosions without explanation. The committee is now investigating the incidents as potential acts of terrorism.
The first collapse happened Saturday in the Bryansk region when a bridge fell onto a passenger train below. Seven people lost their lives in the incident, including the train's driver, while dozens more were injured, with some requiring transportation to Moscow for medical treatment.
Dual border region incidents
Hours after the first collapse, a second bridge gave way in the neighboring Kursk region, which also shares a border with Ukraine. The failure caused a freight train to derail and plunge onto the road below, igniting a fire at the scene.
Acting Governor Alexander Khinshtein of the Kursk region confirmed that despite the dramatic nature of the second collapse, no casualties were reported from that incident. Photos released by government agencies showed train carriages torn apart amid fallen concrete debris.
Additional railway damage was discovered Sunday by inspectors working elsewhere in the Bryansk region, according to Moscow Railway. Officials did not specify whether this damage was connected to the bridge collapses, leaving questions about the scope of the incidents.
Sabotage suspicions mount
Russian officials have previously accused pro-Ukrainian saboteurs of targeting Russia's railway infrastructure, though details around such claims have been limited and difficult to verify independently. The timing and location of these incidents have fueled speculation about possible coordinated attacks.
The Investigative Committee's decision to edit its initial statement raises further questions about the nature of the incidents. The original statement clearly attributed the collapses to explosions, but this language was later removed without explanation, creating confusion about the official narrative.
Rescue workers have been clearing debris from both collapse sites while investigators gather evidence. Social media footage appears to show vehicles that narrowly avoided driving onto one of the bridges before it collapsed, suggesting the timing could have been even more catastrophic.
Ukraine military claims separate attack
Ukraine's military intelligence agency (GUR) released a statement Sunday claiming a Russian military freight train carrying food and fuel had been blown up on its way to Crimea. The agency did not take responsibility for the attack or mention the bridge collapses in Bryansk and Kursk regions.
The GUR statement declared that Moscow's key supply route to the Russian-occupied Zaporizhzhia region and Crimea had been destroyed. Russia has been pushing into Zaporizhzhia since launching its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.
The timing of this statement coinciding with the bridge collapses has drawn attention, though no direct connection has been established between the incidents. Russia annexed Crimea in 2014 and has maintained military control of the peninsula since then.
Border region security concerns
The collapsed bridges represent significant infrastructure damage in western Russia's border regions, areas that have experienced increased security concerns since the beginning of the Ukraine conflict. The loss of these transportation routes could impact both civilian and potentially military logistics.
Russia's railway system serves as a critical transportation network for both civilian travel and military logistics. Damage to key bridges and railway infrastructure could potentially disrupt supply lines and troop movements in regions close to the Ukrainian border.
Local residents in affected areas have had their transportation options severely limited by the incidents. Emergency services continue to work at both sites, with officials warning of potential delays and detours for those needing to travel through the affected regions.
