In a shocking turn of events, two bridges collapsed overnight in Russian regions adjacent to Ukraine, as reported by Russian officials on Sunday. The exact cause of the blasts remains unclear; however, Russia’s Investigative Committee has announced that it will be investigating the incidents as potential acts of terrorism.
The devastating explosions, which occurred just before scheduled peace talks in Istanbul on Monday, resulted in the deaths of at least seven individuals and left dozens more injured. In the Bryansk region of Russia, a significant explosion caused a road bridge to give way onto a railway line late Saturday night. This catastrophic event led to the derailing of a passenger train that was en route to Moscow, according to local authorities.
Hours later, in the neighboring Kursk region, another rail bridge was destroyed in a separate explosion during the early hours of Sunday. This incident also resulted in the derailing of a freight train, injuring its driver, as confirmed by regional officials.
The Investigative Committee, which is the primary criminal investigation agency in Russia, stated in a public announcement that the explosions had indeed caused the collapse of the two bridges. However, the agency did not provide additional details regarding the circumstances surrounding the blasts. Interestingly, several hours later, the committee revised its statement on social media by removing the term “explosions,” without offering any explanation, according to reports from the Associated Press.
In the Bryansk region, social media platforms were flooded with pictures and videos that depicted a passenger train severely damaged under the wreckage of the collapsed road bridge. Alexander Bogomaz, the governor of Bryansk, recounted the harrowing incident, stating, “The bridge was blown up while the Klimovo-Moscow train was passing through with 388 passengers on board.”
Meanwhile, Acting Governor Alexander Khinshtein of the Kursk region shared updates on Telegram, noting that a bridge in the Zheleznogorsky district collapsed while a freight train was in motion, resulting in injuries to one of its drivers.
As the investigation unfolds, the implications of these tragic events could extend beyond immediate concerns, especially with peace negotiations on the horizon. The situation remains fluid, and further updates are expected as authorities work to uncover the details surrounding these alarming incidents.
