A photo allegedly showing a train that ran into the remnant of a collapsed railroad bridge in Russia’s Bryansk Oblast. This horrifying accident killed all but one of the seven victims, including the operator of the locomotive. Another tragedy struck in the Vygonichskyi district, which is located 100 kilometers south of the Ukrainian border. The train was traveling from Klimovo (near the border with Belarus) to Moscow during the incident.
According to regional governor Alexander Bogomaz, the crash harmed 30 others, including two children. The severity of the situation prompted immediate medical assistance for the victims, with various hospitals mobilizing resources to treat those affected.
According to testimony, this overhead bridge that passed over top of the railway tracks was destroyed before the train could even pass by safely. Russian Railways stated that the incident was caused by “the collapse of a span structure of the road bridge as a result of an illegal interference in the operation of transport.” This claim raises alarms about potential collusion to commit sabotage. Preliminary information suggests that an actor or agents may have deliberately blown the bridge up.
The train struck the downed trestle on the state-owned track right next to a nationally important federal highway. According to eyewitness accounts and reports from Russian social media channels Baza and Shot, this was more than a tragic accident. Such platforms usually just spread information from the original sources of security services, more highlighting and underlining the horrible tensions happening in the region.
The Bryansk region has seen an escalation in cross-border conflict since February 2022, with ongoing clashes across the borders, including drone strikes and shelling. These aggressions between Russian and Ukrainian forces on civilian life have sparked immediate concern among community and city leaders. The fact that Vygonichskyi lives so close to Ukraine’s border makes this sad story all the more complicated.
In a message of condolence, Governor Bogomaz noted that authorities were focused on providing emergency assistance to people affected by this catastrophic disaster.
“Everything is being done to provide all necessary assistance to the victims.” – Alexander Bogomaz, governor of the Bryansk region
Rosavtodor, Russia’s federal road transportation agency, confirmed their involvement in assessing and responding to the situation following the bridge’s destruction.