MOSCOW: At least seven people were killed and over 30 injured after a passenger train derailed late Saturday in Russia’s Bryansk region, near the Ukrainian border, according to local authorities.
The train, en route from Klimov to Moscow, went off the tracks near the village of Vygonichi, around 100 kilometres from Ukraine, after reportedly colliding with a collapsed bridge, regional officials said.
Bryansk Governor Alexander Bogomaz confirmed the fatalities in a statement on Telegram, noting that two children were among the injured and at least two victims remain in critical condition. The train’s driver was also among the deceased, state media reported.
According to Russian news agencies, the derailment occurred when a bridge situated above the railway line gave way, an event attributed to what authorities called “illegal interference”.
“The bridge collapsed due to unlawful tampering with transport infrastructure,” stated Moscow Railway on Telegram. Rosavtodor, Russia’s federal road agency, also confirmed the structural failure of the bridge directly over the train route.
Rescue teams continued search-and-recovery operations through the night, combing the wreckage for trapped passengers. Emergency shelters were set up in a local school in Vygonichi to house the displaced, the RIA news agency reported.
While no official attribution of blame has been made, the location and timing of the incident — amid ongoing conflict with Ukraine — have raised suspicions. Russian authorities have frequently accused Ukrainian operatives of sabotage within its territory since the war escalated in early 2022. Ukrainian officials have yet to respond to the incident.
The derailment comes at a sensitive moment, just ahead of expected diplomatic activity. Kyiv is reportedly reviewing Moscow’s latest proposals before committing to any peace talks, and a senior U.S. senator has warned of further sanctions should hostilities deepen.
Security in Bryansk, a region that has seen increased drone strikes and sabotage attempts, has been on high alert in recent months, as tensions between the two nations continue to rise.
