An “explosive device” caused a freight train to derail in one of the regions of Russia. Ukrainebut no casualties, according to a local official, amid fears of Ukrainian attacks and sabotage operations in Russia.

“As a result of the explosion of an unknown explosive device, a freight train derailed. No one was injured, ”the governor of the Bryansk region, bordering Ukraine, Alexander Bogomaz, said in the Telegram application.

According to the source, the incident occurred on the railway between the cities of Bryansk and Unetsa. “Rescue services are on site. Traffic on this section of the railway line has been suspended,” Bogomas added. According to the governor, the crash site is located about 60 kilometers north of the border with Ukraine.

In a separate statement, state-run RZD explained that the train’s engine caught fire after it derailed. Fire departments are on the scene, the company said.

The company also reports that in addition to the steam locomotive, seven more wagons have derailed. At this point, it does not mention the presence of explosives, but simply states that the episode was caused by “interference by outsiders”.

Photos posted on social media show the overturned tanks and plumes of dark gray smoke rising into the sky at the crash site.

Russia has already experienced sabotage at military bases, recruiting centers and even on railway lines since the attack on Ukraine began on February 24, 2022.

But since then, this is the first time such a spectacular crash has been publicly announced.

A high-voltage line in the Leningrad region (northwest Russia) was damaged today by a device explosion, the local governor said, stressing that an investigation into “sabotage” had been launched.

Back in April, Alexander Bortnikov, head of the Russian Security Service (FSB), accused Ukraine and the West of trying to incite Russians to commit acts of sabotage and armed rebellion.

^{Source: APE, AFP, Reuters, dpa.}