Seven people were killed and 69 injured in attacks on two bridges in two regions of Russia. The two bridges in Russian territories bordering Ukraine were blown up as preparations were underway for further talks to end the three-year-long Russia-Ukraine war and establish peace. Russia said the highway bridge in the Bryansk region was blown up while a train carrying 388 passengers was passing underneath. Four hours later, the country said a railway bridge in the Kursk region was also blown up.
Since Russia attacked Ukraine and started the war in February 2022, Ukraine regularly attacks Russian territories that share a regional border with Ukraine. Although both sides accuse each other of targeting civilians, both deny these allegations. Photos and videos circulating on social media from the Bryansk region show passengers trying to exit trying to exit the damaged train in pitch darkness. A section of the bridge had collapsed onto part of the train. The governor of the region, Alexander Bogomaz, said the train that was passing through the area at the time of the explosion was traveling from Klimovo to Moscow in Russia.
Russia’s Investigative Committee, which handles major crimes, said both explosions were related and that both bridges were blown up deliberately as part of a planned attack. Ukraine has not yet commented on the bridge attacks. The attacks came a day before scheduled direct talks between Russia and Ukraine in Turkey, which the United States had been encouraging. Russian political leaders believe Ukraine is behind the attacks on the bridges. They believe the purpose of these attacks is to obstruct peace talks.
Andrei Kartapolov, chairman of the defense committee of the lower house of the Russian parliament, said these attacks were carried out by Ukraine’s special services. He said Ukraine’s aim was to provoke Russia and intensify Russian attacks before peace talks, and to intimidate people. However, he said Ukraine would not achieve this goal. The Kremlin, Russia’s presidential palace, said the Federal Security Service (FSB) and the Ministry of Emergency Situations were sharing information about the attacks with President Vladimir Putin in real-time. The Kremlin also reported that Putin spoke with the Bryansk governor.
U.S. President Donald Trump has warned that if Ukraine and Russia do not make peace, the United States will withdraw from peace-making efforts. In that case, the U.S. might also stop providing military assistance to Ukraine. As peace talks are being discussed, the war continues unabated. Both Russia and Ukraine are launching powerful drone attacks, while Russian troops are also advancing in eastern Ukrainian territories.
Ukraine has not yet confirmed its participation in the talks scheduled to take place in Turkey. Ukraine says it wants to see Russia’s proposals before participating in the talks. Meanwhile, a U.S. congressman has also warned of new sanctions against Russia.
