Rail traffic in Russia's Samara region was partially suspended on Monday after an explosion damaged a bridge, state-run media reported, citing emergency services.
“Around 5:00 a.m., there was an explosion on a railroad bridge that spans over the Chapaevka River,” the TASS news agency quoted an emergency official as saying.
“Rail traffic through the bridge has been suspended,” the unnamed source added, noting that preliminary reports showed that support structures and side railings on the bridge had been damaged.
TASS, citing a statement by the local railway service, later reported that “illegal interference by unauthorized persons in the operation of railway transport” had caused the disruptions.
Five passenger trains in the Samara region were delayed because of the incident.
Ukraine’s GUR military intelligence agency later on Monday confirmed that an explosion had occurred along the Samara region railroad bridge, though it was not immediately clear whether Kyiv was responsible for the blast.
“The railroad route was used by the aggressor state for transporting military cargo, in particular, ammunition made at the factory of JSC Polymer in the city of Chapaevsk,” the GUR said in a statement.
The city of Chapaevsk, with a population of around 70,000, is located just under 40 kilometers to the south of the regional capital of Samara.
“Due to the nature of the damage to the railway bridge, it will be impossible to use it for a while,” the GUR’s statement added without clarifying how it was able to determine the nature of the damage.
Russian authorities have reported several attacks on the country's transport infrastructure since it launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine over two years ago, and it often blames Kyiv for the sabotage incidents.
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.
Remind me later.
