MOSCOW, June 1 — At least seven people were killed and 69 injured after a highway bridge collapsed onto railway tracks, derailing a passenger train in Russia’s Bryansk region, which borders Ukraine, Russian officials said early Sunday.
According to Russian Railways, the incident occurred “due to the collapse of a span structure of the road bridge as a result of an illegal interference in the operation of transport.” The train was en route from Klimovo to Moscow when it struck the debris from the collapsed structure in the Vygonichskyi district, about 100 km (62 miles) from the Ukrainian border.
Among those killed was the train’s locomotive driver, Russian state media reported, citing medical sources. Governor Alexander Bogomaz confirmed on Telegram that 44 of the injured were hospitalized, including three children. “One child is in serious condition,” he added.
Emergency services continued search and rescue efforts overnight, deploying around 180 personnel to the scene, Russia’s Ministry of Emergency Situations said.
Images and videos shared on social media captured passengers helping each other escape mangled train cars in the darkness, while emergency responders searched for those trapped.
The cause of the bridge collapse remains under investigation. Russia’s Baza Telegram channel, often linked to security service sources, reported — without providing evidence — that the bridge may have been deliberately blown up. Reuters could not independently verify the claim.
There has been no immediate reaction from Ukrainian authorities.
Since the outbreak of the Russia-Ukraine war more than three years ago, Russia’s border regions of Bryansk, Kursk, and Belgorod have frequently experienced drone attacks, shelling, and sabotage.
The incident comes amid ongoing diplomatic tension, with Moscow proposing a second round of peace talks in Istanbul next week. Ukraine has not confirmed its participation, saying it awaits detailed Russian proposals. Meanwhile, former U.S. President Donald Trump has called for both sides to “come together” to end the conflict.
U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham, speaking Sunday, warned Moscow of potential new sanctions, saying, “Russia will be hit hard if it continues to escalate.”
