A railway bridge in Russia’s Kursk region collapsed on Saturday shortly after a freight train passed over it, regional authorities confirmed. The incident occurred in the Sudzha district near the border with Ukraine, though no casualties or injuries were reported.
Roman Starovoit, governor of the Kursk region, stated that the bridge collapse took place after the train had safely crossed. He emphasized that emergency teams quickly arrived at the scene and that investigations are underway to determine the cause of the structural failure.
Initial assessments from Russian Railways suggest that the collapse might be attributed to ongoing wear and degradation of the infrastructure. However, authorities are not ruling out the possibility of sabotage, given the proximity to the Ukrainian border and recent incidents targeting Russian transport systems.
In a statement on his Telegram channel, Governor Starovoit said, “The railway bridge in the Sudzha district has collapsed. Fortunately, the train had already passed. There were no injuries. An investigation is ongoing.” He added that repair efforts will begin promptly to restore service and that alternative routes are being used to minimize disruptions.
The Kursk region has faced heightened security concerns since the start of the Ukraine conflict, with cross-border shelling and drone attacks occasionally reported. Russia has stepped up protection of its transportation networks in western regions, but vulnerabilities remain.
The collapsed bridge formed part of a crucial freight corridor, used regularly for transporting industrial goods and supplies across the country. While passenger traffic was not affected, freight operators in the region have been instructed to reroute shipments through adjacent lines until the bridge is repaired.
This incident adds to a growing list of infrastructure challenges confronting Russia’s transportation system. In recent months, several incidents involving railway sabotage and unexplained breakdowns have raised concerns among officials and transport authorities.
Although sabotage has not been officially confirmed in this case, officials are treating the event with caution. “Given the current geopolitical environment and location, all scenarios must be investigated,” one regional security source told Reuters under anonymity.
Local residents reported hearing a loud noise as the structure gave way. Footage circulating on Russian social media shows sections of the bridge collapsed into a shallow ravine, with twisted metal and rail segments lying scattered below.
The Russian Ministry of Emergency Situations has dispatched engineering teams to assess the damage and begin reconstruction planning. State media outlets have highlighted the incident as a reminder of the ongoing pressures placed on national infrastructure during the current period of military and economic strain.
Meanwhile, the Kremlin has yet to issue an official statement on the incident, though it is expected to address the matter once preliminary investigation results are available.
As of Sunday, there has been no indication of when full operations across the line will resume. Logistics companies operating in the region have already begun adjusting delivery schedules to account for delays caused by the detour.
The Kursk regional government urged the public to remain calm and promised transparent updates as the situation develops.
Source; Reuters
