A devastating bridge collapse in Russia’s Bryansk region, near the Ukrainian border, has left at least seven people dead and nearly 70 injured after a highway bridge was blown up and fell onto a moving passenger train late Saturday night.
The incident occurred as a Klimovo–Moscow passenger train carrying 388 people was passing beneath the bridge in the Vygonichsky district. The collapse sent heavy trucks and debris crashing onto the train, derailing several carriages and trapping passengers in the wreckage. Emergency services rushed to the scene, working through the night to rescue survivors and provide medical assistance.
Bryansk Governor Alexander Bogomaz confirmed the fatalities and said that among the injured were three children, with at least one in critical condition. “All necessary measures are being taken to assist the victims,” Bogomaz stated on Telegram, adding that 44 people were hospitalized and 22 were receiving outpatient care.
Authorities believe the bridge was deliberately destroyed. According to preliminary reports, an explosion occurred on the bridge as the train was passing, with some sources indicating that multiple explosive devices may have been used. Moscow Railway described the cause as “illegal interference in transport operations,” and a formal investigation is underway by the interregional transport prosecutor’s office.
Rescue operations began immediately, with emergency crews and additional personnel dispatched to the site. Passengers were evacuated from the derailed train and taken to a temporary shelter at a nearby station. Many were later transferred to hospitals, while others received treatment on site.
Photos from the scene show mangled train carriages, fallen concrete, and emergency responders working amid the debris. The rescue effort was complicated by the presence of several heavy trucks that had also fallen from the bridge.
In a related incident, a second bridge collapsed in the neighboring Kursk region just hours later. While details remain limited, officials confirmed that the twin collapses have heightened concerns about security and possible sabotage in Russian regions bordering Ukraine.
No group has claimed responsibility for the attack, and Ukrainian officials have not commented. The events come amid ongoing tensions and cross-border hostilities linked to the Russia-Ukraine war, with Bryansk and neighboring regions frequently targeted by drone and artillery strikes.
Authorities continue to investigate the cause of the explosions and are assessing the full extent of the damage. The death toll may rise as rescue teams search the wreckage for additional victims.
