A mass collision involving 26 vehicles occurred on a major route near Kaliningrad, prompting a swift and broad response from emergency services. Official reports describe a chaotic scene where dozens of cars collided in the dark and through heavy snow, creating a chain of incidents rather than a single impact. Seven people were injured, including a child, and several others were shaken but not seriously hurt. In the wake of the crash, authorities closed roughly 12 kilometers of the highway to traffic to create a safety buffer for responders and to prevent secondary crashes. Five additional traffic police teams and towing units were deployed to the scene to manage flow, assist injured motorists, and remove wrecked vehicles. The work took more than five hours, with responders coordinating carefully to clear debris, safeguard the stranded, and guide traffic around the closure once lanes were safe for traffic. Throughout the night, weather conditions continued to deteriorate, with heavy snowfall blanketing the area and reducing visibility. Drivers were warned to slow down, keep a greater distance between vehicles, and avoid travel if possible, as the region grappled with harsh winter conditions and a higher risk of further incidents.
Within the same region, six accidents occurred along the Primorsky Ring, amplifying the disruption and stressing emergency services. Seven people sustained injuries in these incidents, including a child, according to early reports. Responders faced similar weather challenges: limited visibility, slick road surfaces, and ongoing snowfall, all of which complicated extraction and medical attention. Affected sections of the Primorsky Ring were temporarily closed, with police establishing detours to keep traffic moving and to secure accident sites. Firefighters and paramedics worked side by side with tow trucks to remove damaged vehicles and to provide care to the injured. As with the Kaliningrad incident, authorities issued advisories urging motorists to reduce speed, increase following distance, and to avoid nonessential travel while snow continues to fall. The scene remained dynamic for several hours, with gradual clearance and staged reopenings as each segment of the ring was declared safe for traffic, and as crews worked to minimize congestion and the possibility of additional crashes. The overlapping nature of these events underscored the dangerous combination of winter weather and high traffic volumes during peak travel times.
On February 7 in the Khabarovsk region, a heavy snowstorm kept more than 90 trucks stranded on a highway overnight, illustrating how winter weather can paralyze freight corridors. The federal route connecting Khabarovsk, Lidoga, and Vanino was effectively blocked as trucks waited for plows and salt teams to clear the way. Blizzard conditions made it impossible for heavily loaded vehicles to climb a steep stretch, and two large trucks left the roadway as a result. Rescue teams and traffic authorities coordinated a staged response, rerouting some vehicles to alternate routes and concentrating resources on the most affected segments. While the incident caused significant disruption for long-haul freight and regional travel, there were no reported fatalities from this particular event, and authorities emphasized the importance of winter readiness for drivers and operators. The response also included checks on vehicle equipment, warnings to drivers to avoid unnecessary trips, and ongoing monitoring of road conditions to prevent further incidents as the storm continued to lash the region.
Earlier in Krasnoyarsk, an accident involving a bus left several people injured, drawing a swift response from local emergency services. The investigation aimed to determine the factors contributing to the crash within winter road conditions, including road surface, visibility, and speed. The injured were stabilized on site and transported to medical facilities as crews secured the scene and started debris removal. The event serves as a reminder that northern and eastern parts of the country face persistent winter risks that can quickly transform routine commutes into urgent rescue operations. Authorities urged motorists to check weather reports, plan routes carefully, and allow extra travel time when planning journeys through snow-covered areas.