At least seven people are dead and 69 injured following the destruction of two bridges in Russia’s Bryansk and Kursk regions, just hours apart, in what authorities call coordinated acts of sabotage.
The attacks occurred on the eve of proposed peace talks between Russia and Ukraine, set to take place in Istanbul.
In Bryansk, a highway bridge collapsed onto a railway line at 10:50 pm on Saturday as a passenger train carrying 388 people to Moscow passed underneath.
Wreckage from the impact trapped carriages, forcing passengers to scramble through debris in darkness. Just four hours later, a freight train was hit by a separate bridge collapse in Kursk, scattering metal across a highway.
Russian officials say the incidents were deliberate. “The bridge was blown up while the Klimovo-Moscow train was passing,” regional governor Alexander Bogomaz confirmed.
The Investigative Committee has opened a criminal case, linking both incidents and declaring them acts of terrorism.
While Kyiv has not claimed responsibility, Russia’s lawmakers were quick to point fingers. “This is definitely the work of Ukrainian special services,” said MP Andrei Kartapolov, calling the attacks attempts to derail peace efforts and provoke further hostilities.
The U.S. has pressured both nations to attend the Istanbul talks, with President Donald Trump warning of consequences should they fail to engage.
However, tensions remain high. Ukraine’s military intelligence said a Russian military train was also derailed in occupied Zaporizhzhia, though no party has formally taken responsibility.
