### Train Derailments and Explosions in Russia's Bryansk and Kursk Regions Leave Multiple Casualties

At least seven individuals lost their lives, and 66 others sustained injuries in the Bryansk region of western Russia after a train derailed due to a railway bridge collapse overnight. The tragic incident also caused significant disruption, as reported by the regional governor.

The passenger train, numbered 68, was en route from Klimov, near the Belgorod border, to Moscow when an explosion reportedly caused the collapse of a bridge, resulting in the derailment. Moscow Railway, the train's operator, attributed the accident to "illegal interference in transport operations." The Bryansk Governor, Aleksandr Bogomaz, detailed the event on Rossiya-24 TV channel and later on Telegram, confirming the casualties and stating that 47 of the injured had been hospitalized.

Further complicating matters, a second railway bridge in the Kursk region, also bordering Bryansk, collapsed and derailed a passing freight train. Acting regional governor Alexander Khinshtein stated that part of the train fell onto an adjacent road and confirmed that at least one worker was injured.

In the aftermath, Andrei Klishas, chairman of Russia's Federation Council Committee on State Construction, accused Ukraine of orchestrating the Bryansk incident, characterizing it as a terrorist attack. The Kremlin revealed that President Vladimir Putin was briefed on the situation by the Federal Security Service and the Emergencies Ministry.

Contradicting these claims, Andriy Kovalenko, head of Ukraine's Counter-Disinformation Center, disassociated Ukraine from the attack and linked the allegations to the upcoming peace talks scheduled in Istanbul, Turkey. Kovalenko accused the Kremlin of attempting to undermine the discussions and reiterated that Ukraine had previously agreed to a ceasefire.

The backdrop of these incidents includes a history of sabotage operations targeting Russia's railway networks, which have been sporadically claimed by Ukrainian intelligence services. These operations aim to disrupt Russia's military logistics. Such attacks have become frequent in the Russian border regions, including Bryansk, Kursk, and Belgorod, especially amid Moscow's ongoing full-scale invasion of Ukraine.