Support The Moscow Times!

'Explosive Device' Derails Second Russian Freight Train Near Ukraine

Overturned freight wagons from a derailment in the Bryansk region on Monday Telegram / Baza

A freight train derailed on Tuesday in Russia's Bryansk region bordering Ukraine due to an "explosive device" on the tracks, the local governor said. 

The announcement of the derailment, which is the second to occur in the region this week, came as Russia was hit by a series of similar attacks while Kyiv says it is preparing for a counteroffensive.  

"An unidentified explosive device went off near the Snezhestkaya railway station," Bryansk region governor Alexander Bogomaz said, the day after a similar train derailed in the same area. 

"A locomotive and several wagons of the train derailed," he said, adding that there were no casualties. 

The station lies about two kilometers outside the regional hub of Bryansk, while the explosion that caused a train to derail and catch fire on Monday occurred near Unecha, closer to the Ukraine border. 

Russian Railways put out a statement saying the train had derailed due to "the intervention of unauthorized persons in the work of rail transport". 

It did not mention an explosive device.

The state operator said the incident took place at 7:47 pm local time (1647 GMT) between Snezhetskaya and the nearby village of Belye Berega. 

It said the train's front locomotive and "around 20 wagons" were derailed and that rail traffic in that section had been suspended. 

There have been many reports of sabotage on railways in Russia since Moscow launched its Ukraine offensive, but this week is the first time officials confirmed attacks on this scale. 

Sign up for our free weekly newsletter

Our weekly newsletter contains a hand-picked selection of news, features, analysis and more from The Moscow Times. You will receive it in your mailbox every Friday. Never miss the latest news from Russia. Preview
Subscribers agree to the Privacy Policy

A Message from The Moscow Times:

Dear readers,

We are facing unprecedented challenges. Russia's Prosecutor General's Office has designated The Moscow Times as an "undesirable" organization, criminalizing our work and putting our staff at risk of prosecution. This follows our earlier unjust labeling as a "foreign agent."

These actions are direct attempts to silence independent journalism in Russia. The authorities claim our work "discredits the decisions of the Russian leadership." We see things differently: we strive to provide accurate, unbiased reporting on Russia.

We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. But to continue our work, we need your help.

Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just $2. It's quick to set up, and every contribution makes a significant impact.

By supporting The Moscow Times, you're defending open, independent journalism in the face of repression. Thank you for standing with us.

Once
Monthly
Annual
Continue
paiment methods
Not ready to support today?
Remind me later.

Read more