Moscow, Russia — A deadly train derailment in Russia’s Bryansk Oblast has sparked accusations against Ukraine, with Russian officials alleging that an explosion on a railway bridge caused the collapse that killed seven and injured at least 69 people.
The incident occurred late on May 31 near the village of Vygonichi as a passenger train traveled from Klimov to Moscow, carrying 388 passengers.
Alexander Bogomaz, governor of Bryansk, told state television that the bridge explosion occurred as the train was crossing, causing a section to fall onto the road below.
Among the fatalities was the train’s conductor, and three children were reportedly among the injured. Of those hurt, at least 44 were taken to nearby hospitals, according to Russian emergency services.
Initial reports from Russian officials stated that the bridge had simply collapsed, but the narrative shifted as the day progressed. Later, Bogomaz claimed the incident was the result of Ukrainian sabotage and labeled the event “terrorism,” declaring that “Ukraine has become a breeding ground for terrorism.”
Footage circulating on Russian social media and Telegram channels showed the aftermath of the crash, with several train cars mangled and scattered. Witnesses reported hearing explosions shortly before the bridge gave way.
Moscow Railways, a subsidiary of Russian Railways, released a statement attributing the collapse to “unlawful interference in transport operations,” though it did not specify the nature of the interference.
Ukraine has not officially responded to the accusations, and independent verification of the Russian claims remains unavailable. The Kyiv Independent reported that it could not confirm whether Ukraine was involved in the derailment.
Bryansk Oblast, which borders Ukraine’s Chernihiv and Sumy regions, has previously been the site of cross-border strikes and sabotage actions attributed to Ukrainian forces and partisans.
On the same night, a separate derailment occurred in Russia’s Kursk Oblast. A freight train derailed after a bridge collapse in the Zheleznogorskyi district.
Acting Governor Alexander Khinshtein confirmed the incident and said that one of the train’s drivers sustained leg injuries. Like the Bryansk incident, the cause of the collapse remains under investigation.
Meanwhile, Ukrainian military intelligence (HUR) reported a successful sabotage mission overnight near Melitopol in the Russian-occupied Zaporizhzhia Oblast.
According to HUR, a Russian military train transporting fuel and supplies was blown up, although the agency did not claim direct responsibility. They described the operation as part of broader efforts to disrupt Russian logistics in occupied territories.
Additionally, the Ukrainian partisan group Atesh claimed responsibility for damaging railway infrastructure in occupied Donetsk.
In a Telegram post, Atesh said its operatives destroyed a relay box on the Volnovakha-Mariupol line, interrupting railway signalling used to transport military supplies. The group vowed to continue targeting such infrastructure to undermine Russian military operations.
While Russia continues to blame Ukraine for incidents within its borders, the lack of verified evidence and Ukraine’s silence have left many questions unanswered. Investigations into both derailments are ongoing.