Russia has suffered devastating damage and tragic losses following the collapse of two bridges.

08:15, Sun, Jun 1, 2025 | UPDATED: 12:10, Sun, Jun 1, 2025

Multiple people killed after bridges collapse in Russia

At least seven people were killed in one of the bridge collapses (Image: Moscow Transport Prosecutor's Office)

Multiple people have died after two Russian bridges collapsed overnight in regions bordering Ukraine. An explosion has been blamed for the destruction of one of the bridges, which fell onto railway tracks in Bryansk, Russia's Oblast region, killing seven people onboard an approaching train. At least 69 passengers were injured in the crash after the journey was derailed on its way from Moscow to Klimov.

A bridge also came down in the Kursk region shortly afterwards as a freight train was passing over it, Russian officials said. The train's driver was reportedly injured in the incident, which local officials blamed on "illegal interference".

Russian bridge collapses onto railway

Photos show emergency services at the scene of the crash (Image: Moscow Transport Prosecutor's Office)

At least one of the passengers taken to hospital after the Bryansk collapse was a child, regional governor Alexander Bogomaz said, with Moscow Railway alleging on social media that the crash was caused by "illegal interference".

The governor of Russia's Zheleznogorsk district said the second incident involved a train catching fire and a driver suffering injuries to his legs.

Alexander Khinshtein wrote on Telegram: "The cause of the bridge collapse will be established. All emergency services are working on the scene. I am keeping the situation under control."

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Russia's interregional transport prosecutor's office said an investigation had been launched into the two incidents.

It remains unclear whether the collapses, both close in proximity to the Ukraine border and previously subject to strikes and shelling as part of the long-running conflict, were linked.

Andrei Klishas, a senior member of Russia's upper chamber of parliament alleged that the crashed showed that "Ukraine has long lost the attributes of a state and has turned into a terrorist enclave".

Ukraine has yet to comment on the incidents.