A tragic incident occurred in western Russia late Saturday when a bridge overpass collapsed, resulting in a passenger train derailing beneath it. This disaster has left at least seven people dead and wounded many others, as reported by officials and state media.
In an alarming follow-up, another railway overpass also gave way while a freight train was crossing, although fortunately, no lives were lost in this event. Both accidents happened approximately 77 miles apart in the Bryansk and Kursk regions, which are near the border with Ukraine.
President Vladimir Putin has been kept informed about the developments throughout the night, as stated by the Kremlin. The direct connection between these railway collapses and the ongoing conflict in Ukraine remains unclear.
Additionally, Ukrainian military intelligence reported a separate incident in which they allegedly destroyed a Russian military train traveling towards Crimea. This train, loaded with fuel and other supplies, reportedly derailed in an area of Zaporizhzhia currently under Russian control. However, this claim has not been independently verified.
These unfolding events highlight the ongoing instability in the region, and while the railway incidents have caused significant loss of life and injury, the situation is under close observation by both military and government officials. The hope remains that safety measures can be significantly improved to prevent such tragedies in the future.