Two Bridge Collapses Near Russia’s Border with Ukraine Result in Train Derailments and Casualties

At least seven individuals lost their lives and 30 were hospitalized due to “unauthorized interference” that led to a bridge collapse and a train derailment in Russia’s Bryansk region, which borders Ukraine, according to Russian officials early on Sunday, June 1.

The train’s engine and several cars derailed “following the failure of a span structure of the road bridge as a consequence of unauthorized interference in transport operations,” reported Russian Railways on the Telegram messaging platform.

Two of the hospitalized were children, with one in critical condition, stated Alexander Bogomaz, the governor of the Bryansk region, on Telegram. Among the deceased was the locomotive driver, Russia’s state news agencies mentioned, citing medical sources.
Russia’s emergency ministry announced on Telegram that their primary focus was on locating and rescuing victims, with around 180 personnel participating in the operation.

According to Russia’s Baza Telegram channel, known for sharing information from security services and law enforcement, preliminary reports suggested that the bridge was detonated, though this claim was not substantiated.

Reuters has been unable to independently verify the Baza claims. No immediate response has been received from Ukraine.

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Since the onset of the conflict initiated by Russia over three years ago, cross-border shelling, drone attacks, and covert operations from Ukraine into the Bryansk, Kursk, and Belgorod regions have been ongoing.

The train was traveling from Klimovo to Moscow, as noted by Russian Railways. It collided with the collapsed bridge located on a federal highway in the Vygonichskyi district of the Bryansk region, according to Bogomaz. This district is situated approximately 100 km (62 miles) from the Ukraine border.

A few hours after the incident in the Bryansk region, another bridge collapsed in the Kursk region of Russia while a freight train was traversing it, as per the acting governor of this bordering region, who shared the update on Telegram.

Initial reports indicated that one of the locomotive drivers sustained injuries, added Alexander Khinshtein, an official in Russia’s southern Kursk region.

US President Donald Trump has called for Moscow and Kyiv to collaborate on a resolution to end the conflict, with Russia proposing a second round of in-person discussions with Ukrainian officials next week in Istanbul.

Ukraine has yet to confirm participation in the talks scheduled for Monday, June 2, stating it needs to review Russian proposals first, while a prominent US senator warned that Moscow would face severe repercussions from new US sanctions.