At least seven dead after explosions cause two bridges to collapse in Russian regions bordering Ukraine, authorities say

At least two bridges have collapsed in Russian regions bordering Ukraine over the past 24 hours, killing at least seven people and injuring dozens more, according to local authorities. In the Bryansk region, a road bridge collapsed onto a passenger train, causing it to derail. Shortly afterward, in the Kursk region, a bridge gave way as a freight train was crossing, sending it crashing onto the road below and igniting a fire. Bryansk Governor Alexander Bogomaz said the first incident was caused by an intentional explosion. The Russian Investigative Committee announced it was treating both collapses as acts of terrorism and initially stated that both were caused by explosions, but later edited its post to remove that claim. Telegram channels also reported another railroad explosion in Bryansk on Sunday, though authorities have not commented on those reports. Meduza lays out what we know so far.

The initial collapse in the Bryansk region

A road bridge collapsed in Russia’s Bryansk region on Saturday evening just as a passenger train was approaching below, killing at least seven people and injuring at least 69, according to Governor Alexander Bogomaz.

The incident occurred at 10:44 p.m. local time near the town of Vygonichi, where the railway intersects with federal highway A-240. According to media reports, traffic on this section of the road had been restricted since May 20 due to repair work. At the moment of the collapse, a semi-truck was driving over the bridge. The train struck the fallen debris, causing the locomotive and four additional cars to derail.

According to officials, 47 people were hospitalized. Three of them, including a child, were in serious condition. The truck driver was also reportedly injured.

A temporary shelter was set up for the train passengers at the Vygonichi station, and on the morning of June 1, they were transported to Moscow. Passengers have been promised a full refund. Russian Railways also pledged to pay 2.2 million rubles ($28,500) in compensation to the families of those who died. A three-day mourning period has been declared in the Bryansk region.

According to a statement on Moscow Railway’s Telegram channel, the derailment occurred “due to the collapse of a road bridge span as a result of unlawful interference with transport operations.” The post was later edited to remove the reference to “unlawful interference.”

Telegram channels with ties to Russian law enforcement, including Baza, Mash, 112, and Shot, quickly suggested the bridge may have collapsed due to an explosion at its supports. Others speculated the train could have hit railroad ties rigged with explosives. Some channels cited claims by pro-Kremlin “war correspondents” alleging that a group of Ukrainian saboteurs had been spotted in the area in recent days.

On Sunday morning, Governor Bogomaz appeared to corroborate these reports. In a television interview, he said: “The bridge was blown up while the Klimovo–Moscow train, carrying 388 passengers, was in motion. At this time, seven people have died, and three children have been injured.”

A collapse in the Kursk region

Another bridge collapsed early Sunday morning in Russia’s Kursk region. The incident took place on the Trosna–Kalinovka highway in the region’s Zheleznogorsky District, according to Governor Alexander Khinshtein. He said the bridge gave way as a freight train was crossing it, with part of the train falling onto the road below. The locomotive caught fire, but the blaze was quickly contained. The train crew was hospitalized, with one crew member sustaining a leg injury. Road traffic under the bridge has been blocked. The cause of the collapse remains under investigation.

Telegram channels Shot and Baza claimed the Kursk bridge may also have been targeted, similar to the Bryansk collapse. According to their reports, a homemade bomb may have been planted in the structure.

Later, Russian the Investigative Committee stated that both bridge collapses — in Bryansk and Kursk — were the result of explosions. Criminal cases have been opened, with the Main Investigative Directorate leading the inquiry. “These incidents have been classified as acts of terrorism,” said Investigative Committee spokesperson Svetlana Petrenko.

However, as the outlet Vot Tak reported, the Investigative Committee later deleted the Telegram post that cited explosions as the cause. In an updated version, the Bryansk bridge is said to have “collapsed,” while in the Kursk case, a “train fell from a damaged bridge,” with no mention of a blast.

A second incident reported in the Bryansk region

Later on Sunday, the Telegram channels Shot and 112 reported a separate incident in the Bryansk region. According to them, railroad tracks near the town of Unechka were blown up on Sunday morning while a track inspection train was passing through the area. No injuries or damage were reported.

Local social media pages, citing railway workers, reported that this incident was also due to a planned explosion. According to Moscow Railway’s press service, railway workers discovered track damage on the Unecha–Zhecha line during a subsequent inspection. Suburban and passenger train service on that section has been temporarily suspended.