Moscow: In advance of what is anticipated to be a Kyiv counteroffensive, an explosive device derailed a Russian goods train in a region bordering Ukraine for a second straight day on Tuesday.
The Crimea, which Moscow annexed in 2014, and Russian territory have both experienced a wave of attacks recently.In the past four days, explosions have caused two trains to derail, a suspected drone to strike an oil depot in Crimea, sparking a massive fire, and blow up power lines close to Saint Petersburg.
The strikes occur as Russia prepares to commemorate May 9, a day that has become significant under President Vladimir Putin's rule as it commemorates the Soviet victory over the Nazis.
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In keeping with tradition, Ukraine has declined to take credit for the attacks, which occurred as Kyiv announced it was wrapping up preparations for a spring offensive that had been announced weeks earlier.
Bryansk region governor Alexander Bogomaz stated on Tuesday that a "unidentified explosive device" caused the train to derail. He claimed that it went off at Snezhetskaya station, which is a few miles from Bryansk, a city of about 370,000 people located close to the borders of Belarus and Ukraine.
He said, "A locomotive and several waggons of the train derailed," and added that no one was hurt. A similar explosion near Unecha, in the same region but closer to the Ukrainian border, resulted in a train derailing and catching fire on Monday.
The Kremlin has worked to portray Russia as secure while its soldiers fight in Ukraine throughout its more than year-long offensive. It acknowledged a security threat earlier on Tuesday.
Dmitry Peskov, a spokesman for the Kremlin, said, "Of course, we are aware that the Kyiv regime, which is responsible for a number of such terrorist attacks, plans to continue this line. All of our intelligence agencies are taking all necessary precautions to maintain security.
In a statement, Russian Railways claimed that "unauthorised persons' intervention in the work of rail transport" was to blame for the train's derailment.
According to the state operator, the incident happened between Snezhetskaya and the neighbouring village of Belye Berega at 7:47 p.m. local time (16:47 GMT). The front locomotive of the train and "about 20 waggons," according to the report, were derailed, and rail traffic in that area had been halted.
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Since Moscow began its offensive in Ukraine, there have been numerous reports of sabotage on Russian railways, but this week marks the first time attacks have been officially confirmed.
According to a count by the independent media Mediazona published in mid-April, more than 65 people, including a third of minors, have been detained since the autumn in only about 20 regions of the country on charges of railway sabotage.
The incident occurred at 7:47 p.m. local time (16:47 GMT), between Snezhetskaya and the neighbouring village of Belye Berega, according to the state operator.
The front locomotive of the train and "about 20 waggons," according to the report, were derailed, and rail traffic in that region had been suspended.
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Numerous reports of sabotage on Russian railways have surfaced since Moscow started its offensive in Ukraine, but this week marks the first time attacks have been formally acknowledged.
In only about 20 regions of the country since the autumn, more than 65 people including a third of minors have been detained on suspicion of railway sabotage, according to a count by the independent media outlet Mediazona that was published in mid-April.