Russia said on Tuesday that the train was derailed by an “unidentified explosive device”. (Representative)
Moscow:
An explosive device derailed a Russian freight train for the second consecutive day on Tuesday in an area bordering Ukraine.
The Russian region and Crimea, which was annexed by Moscow in 2014, has been hit by a series of attacks in recent days.
In the past four days, explosions have derailed two trains, a suspected drone hit an oil depot in Crimea, causing a huge fire near St Petersburg and blowing down power lines.
The attacks come as Russia prepares to celebrate May 9, a holiday marking the Soviet victory over the Nazis that has become a central event under President Vladimir Putin’s rule.
Ukraine has followed its general line of not claiming responsibility for the attacks, which Kiev said is finalizing preparations for the spring offensive announced weeks ago.
Alexander Bogomaz, the governor of Russia’s western Bryansk region, said on Tuesday that the train was derailed by an “unidentified explosive device”.
He said it moved to Snezhetskaya station outside the regional center of Bryansk, a city of about 370,000 people near the borders with Ukraine and Belarus.
“One locomotive and several coaches of the train derailed,” he said. He said there were no casualties.
On Monday, a similar explosion derailed a train and started a fire near Unecha, in the same area but closer to the border with Ukraine.
During its more than year-long offensive, the Kremlin has sought to portray Russia as safe while its troops fight in Ukraine.
Earlier on Tuesday, he had accepted the threat to security.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said, “Of course, we know that the Kiev regime, which is behind many such attacks – terrorist attacks – plans to continue this line.”
“All our intelligence services are doing everything possible to ensure security.”
– Rail sabotage –
Russian Railways also issued a statement saying that the train derailment was caused by interference of unauthorized persons in the work of rail transport.
There was no mention of any explosive device in it.
The state operator said the incident happened at 7:47 pm local time (1647 GMT) between Snezhetskaya and the nearby village of Bely Berega.
It said the train’s front locomotive and “about 20 wagons” were derailed and rail traffic was suspended in that section.
There have been numerous reports of railway sabotage in Russia since Moscow launched its invasion of Ukraine, but this week marks the first time officials have confirmed the attacks.
According to a count by independent media Mediazona published in mid-April, more than 65 people, including a third of them minors, have been detained since falling to railway sabotage charges in about 20 regions of the country alone.
Ukraine says it has been preparing for months for a counteroffensive aimed at driving Russian forces out of territory it currently holds in the east and south.
Meanwhile, Denmark said it is sending military aid worth 1.7 billion kronor ($250 million) to Ukraine “to support an upcoming Ukrainian offensive,”
The Danish Defense Ministry said in a statement that the package includes financial assistance for the purchase of mine clearing vehicles, ammunition and air defence.
Acting Defense Minister Trolls Lund Poulsen said, “The equipment … is needed to pave the way for Ukrainian tanks and mechanized infantry on the front line.”
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