• At least seven people have died following bridge collapses onto trains in Russia's Bryansk region.
• Over 69 individuals were injured, with several in critical condition, including children.
• Authorities are investigating the incidents as possible acts of terrorism due to explosions.
• The first collapse occurred late Saturday, while a second followed hours later in the neighboring Kursk region.
• Rescue operations are ongoing, and local officials have declared a state of emergency.

In a tragic incident in the Bryansk region of Russia bordering Ukraine, a bridge collapsed onto a moving passenger train late Saturday, resulting in at least seven fatalities and 69 injuries, according to regional Governor Alexander Bogomaz. The emergency services reported that among the injured were two children, with one in serious condition. The authorities stated that the bridge collapse occurred around 10:44 PM local time, derailing several train carriages and crushing others beneath the wreckage, as shown in videos circulated on social media, according to BBC, Reuters, and South China Morning Post.

Following the Bryansk incident, a second separate bridge collapse occurred in the Kursk region, derailing a freight train and injuring the driver. Russian Railways indicated that both collapses were associated with explosions, prompting an ongoing investigation. Authorities are treating these incidents as possible acts of terrorism, specifically noting that investigations are underway to determine the causes, as explained by officials from the Investigative Committee of Russia, according to Le Monde and NPR.

Eyewitness accounts describe the chaos immediately following the collapse, with some expressing disbelief about the suddenness of the bridge failure. The regional administration declared a period of mourning for the victims, and emergency responders have been deployed to aid those affected. Local authorities have confirmed that around 180 personnel are involved in rescue and recovery efforts at the sites, according to India Times, ABC News, and TRT Global.

While Russian officials have not explicitly assigned blame for the incidents, previous assertions regarding sabotage related to Ukraine and its military intelligence activities linger in discussions. There are fears that these types of attacks could escalate tensions significantly along the regions of the ongoing conflict, a matter that has gained substantial international attention, following events leading up to proposed diplomatic talks in Istanbul, according to Anadolu Agency, India Times, and Dawn.