In what Russian authorities are calling a serious act of sabotage, two railway disasters occurred within a short time span, both involving the collapse of bridges — incidents that are now being tied to Ukrainian covert operations.
One of the most dramatic cases took place in Russia’s Bryansk region, near the Ukrainian border, where a civilian passenger train derailed after a road bridge suddenly collapsed over the tracks. “Unfortunately, there are casualties,” regional governor Alexander Bogomaz announced on Telegram. According to official sources, at least seven people were killed, and around 30 others were hospitalized with injuries.
The Russian rail operator reported “unauthorized interference with train operations,” though no further details were initially disclosed. Independent media reports suggest that the collapse was preceded by an explosion. Russian Telegram channel Baza, which is reportedly close to security services, stated that an explosive device was likely used to bring down the bridge.
There has been no immediate comment from Ukrainian officials. However, Ukraine’s intelligence services have a well-documented history of sabotage attacks on Russian territory, targeting infrastructure, railways, and supply routes. While Kyiv tends to remain silent in the immediate aftermath, past operations have often been acknowledged indirectly or leaked through unnamed sources.
This incident appears to mark a notable escalation in attacks on civilian infrastructure, a shift from the more frequent strikes on military or logistical targets. If confirmed as an act of sabotage, it could signal a deliberate Ukrainian strategy to pressure Russian rear areas and disrupt domestic stability through symbolic and deadly strikes on civilian transport systems.
Moscow, meanwhile, is likely to respond with heightened security measures across its western regions, as the war increasingly seeps into Russian heartland territory.
