Bridge Explosions Kill 7, Injure 69 in Russian Border Regions Amid Peace Talk Efforts

Two bridges in Russia's Bryansk and Kursk regions near the Ukraine border were blown up in separate explosions, killing at least seven people and injuring 69, just ahead of planned peace talks aimed at ending the war in Ukraine. The first blast occurred on a highway bridge over a railway in Bryansk as a passenger train with 388 passengers passed underneath, causing derailment and casualties. Hours later, a railway bridge in Kursk was also destroyed, derailing a freight train and injuring the driver. Russia's Investigative Committee linked the two incidents as deliberate sabotage, with Russian officials accusing Ukrainian special services of orchestrating the attacks, while Ukraine has not immediately commented. These attacks have raised tensions and cast doubt on the success of the upcoming peace negotiations in Istanbul, as both sides deny targeting civilians but continue military operations. The incidents have heightened concerns about escalating violence undermining diplomatic efforts to resolve the three-year conflict.