Scenes Of Chaos Caught On Camera As Russian Bridge Collapse Kills 7 Ahead Of Ukraine Peace Talks

Last Updated:June 01, 2025, 17:05 IST

At least 7 people were killed and 71 others injured after two bridges collapsed in Russian regions bordering Ukraine due to explosions, derailing two trains.

Seven people were killed and dozens injured after bridges in two separate Russian regions collapsed overnight. (AFP)

Two bridges in Russian regions bordering Ukraine collapsed due to explosions, derailing two trains overnight and killing at least seven people, while injuring over 70 others. Russia’s Investigative Committee described both incidents as being caused by explosions and has labelled them “terrorist" acts.

A highway bridge over a railway in the Bryansk region was blown up at 10:50 pm (local time) on Saturday night, derailing a passenger train en route to Moscow carrying 388 passengers, and killing seven people, according to authorities.

About four hours later, a separate rail bridge in the neighbouring Kursk region was blown up hours later in the early hours of Sunday, derailing a freight train and injuring the driver.

Pictures and videos uploaded on social media showed passengers trying to climb out of the destroyed carriages in the train that derailed in the Bryansk region. Parts of the train were crushed under a collapsed road bridge.

Rescuers were seen climbing over the mangled chassis of a train belonging to national operator Russian Railways, while screams could be heard in another video. “How did the bridge collapse? There are children there!" a woman was heard shouting.

The twin bridge collapse came on the eve of a possible meeting between Russian and Ukrainian officials in Istanbul, amid a US-led diplomatic push to end the three-year-long conflict. US President Donald Trump has demanded both sides to make peace, and he has threatened to walk away if they do not.

Was Ukraine Behind The Attacks?

The Russian regions bordering Ukraine have been subject to frequent attacks by Ukraine since Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022. Both sides accuse the other of targeting civilians, and both deny such accusations.

Ukraine’s military intelligence GUR on Sunday said a Russian military freight train carrying food and fuel had been blown up on its way to Crimea. However, it did not claim responsibility for the bridge collapse, but said it was behind an attack deep inside Russia.

Meanwhile, Russian President Vladimir Putin was briefed on the incidents throughout the night, the Kremlin said. Senior ruling party lawmaker Andrey Klishas blamed Ukraine for the explosions, describing it as a “terrorist enclave".

“All this is aimed at toughening the position of the Russian Federation and stoking aggression before the negotiations. And also to intimidate people. But they won’t succeed," said the chairman of the defence committee of the lower house of the Russian parliament, Andrei Kartapolov.

(with inputs from agencies)

Aveek Banerjee

Aveek Banerjee is a Senior Sub Editor at News18. Based in Noida with a Master's in Global Studies, Aveek has more than three years of experience in digital media and news curation, specialising in international...Read More

Aveek Banerjee is a Senior Sub Editor at News18. Based in Noida with a Master's in Global Studies, Aveek has more than three years of experience in digital media and news curation, specialising in international...

Read More

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News world Scenes Of Chaos Caught On Camera As Russian Bridge Collapse Kills 7 Ahead Of Ukraine Peace Talks