Ukraine conflict intensifies tensions as tragedy strikes near its border—two bridge collapses in Russia kill seven and injure dozens. Moscow, Russia — Late Saturday night, two separate bridge collapses occurred in Russian regions bordering Ukraine, resulting in seven fatalities and numerous injuries. Russian officials have not ruled out sabotage, raising fresh concerns about the wider security implications linked to the ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict.
In Russia’s Bryansk region, which shares a border with Ukraine, a road bridge collapsed onto a railway line, causing a passenger train bound for Moscow to derail. The disaster killed seven people and injured at least 66 others, including three children, according to Bryansk Governor Alexander Bogomaz.
Videos shared across social media showed a scene of chaos, with emergency responders clambering over mangled rail cars. In one video, screams could be heard as survivors cried out for help. “How did the bridge collapse? There are children there!” one woman is heard yelling.
Officials confirmed that the train belonged to Russian Railways, the country’s state-owned rail operator. Emergency crews, including medics and search-and-rescue teams, quickly arrived on-site to manage the aftermath and evacuate the injured. Repair trains were also dispatched to the location.
In a separate but equally alarming incident, a rail bridge in the neighbouring Kursk region—also bordering Ukraine—collapsed as a freight train was passing through. The collapse derailed the train, and part of the locomotive fell onto the road below, according to Kursk Governor Alexander Khinshtein.
“One of the locomotive drivers suffered leg injuries, and the entire crew was taken to the hospital,” Khinshtein said via Telegram.
Both incidents occurred overnight and within close proximity to the Ukraine-Russia border, drawing further attention to the fragile infrastructure and increasing speculation about the involvement of external actors.
While Russian prosecutors have launched investigations into both incidents, they have so far not disclosed the exact causes of the bridge collapses. However, a now-edited statement from Moscow Railways initially cited “illegal interference in the operation of transport” in reference to the Bryansk derailment.
Although that phrasing was later removed from official posts, it has fueled speculation that sabotage may have played a role, particularly given the historical context. Since the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, its domestic rail network has been targeted in multiple sabotage attacks, often blamed on Ukrainian operatives or Russian partisans.
No official comment has been made by Ukrainian authorities regarding the latest incidents. However, Kyiv has long asserted that Russian railway infrastructure is a legitimate military target, claiming that Russia uses it to transport troops and weapons to frontline positions in occupied Ukrainian territories.
Sabotage of Russian Infrastructure: A Growing Pattern Linked to Ukraine Conflict
Dozens of sabotage incidents have rocked Russia’s railway system since the war with Ukraine began. These include attacks on fuel depots, relay cabinets, and transport hubs—many of which have significantly disrupted military logistics.
In this latest case, the timing and location of the bridge collapses are of particular interest. Both Bryansk and Kursk are frequently cited as key transit routes for military equipment heading toward the Ukrainian front. Whether by coincidence or design, the disruption of these supply lines would directly benefit Ukrainian defensive operations.
A journalist from AFP stationed at Moscow’s Kiev sky railway station confirmed that ambulances were waiting to receive injured passengers returning from the accident site in Bryansk. The presence of emergency medical staff in the capital underlines the scale and seriousness of the incident.
These infrastructure attacks come at a critical time, just ahead of a potential meeting between Russian and Ukrainian officials in Istanbul, as part of a U.S.-led diplomatic effort to bring an end to the prolonged conflict. The three-year-long war has resulted in tens of thousands of deaths, widespread destruction in Ukraine, and rising instability across Eastern Europe.
While Russia continues to accuse Ukraine of orchestrating sabotage operations inside its borders, Kyiv maintains that any such activities are defensive in nature and necessary for disrupting Russian military campaigns.
The twin bridge collapses in Bryansk and Kursk are stark reminders that the war between Russia and Ukraine is not confined to the frontlines. As investigations continue, the possibility of sabotage linked to the broader conflict cannot be ruled out.
Whether by deliberate attack or structural failure, the human toll is undeniable—seven lives lost, dozens injured, and public confidence in infrastructure security further shaken. With diplomacy on the horizon, incidents like these only underline the urgency of de-escalating the conflict and addressing the humanitarian and security fallout on both sides of the border.
Source- EWN
