An unidentified explosive device caused a blast on a moving train in Russia’s Bryansk region. The regional governor, Alexander Bogomaz, confirmed the incident in a Telegram message, noting that it happened at 10:00 a.m. in the Unecha district along the Bryansk-Unecha railway segment at the 136th kilometer marker.
The district administrator said that two locomotives and seven freight cars derailed due to the explosion. Russian Railways reported one derailed locomotive and seven cars. The train cars overturned and caught fire, while the remaining cars were moved to a safe distance. Governor Bogomaz stated that there were no casualties.
According to TASS, the train carried more than 70 cars. Emergency services informed the agency that kerosene was in the tanks, and it was previously carrying timber. Bogomaz said the fire was contained to a local area and that he was personally present to oversee the response and assess needs on the ground.
A regional headquarters was established to coordinate efforts. Attending the operations were Vadim Sergeevich Uvarkin, head of the Main Directorate of EMERCOM for the Bryansk region, Marat Shevketovich Shaydullin, deputy head of the Moscow Railway for the regional administration, and other emergency responders. The initiative was described in official remarks.
TASS reported that the Moscow Railways laboratory and the Ecospas team were monitoring environmental conditions and working to mitigate any oil- or chemical-related impacts from the incident.
Transport services were adjusted to maintain connections. Additional bus routes were opened to connect Unecha with Pochep railway station to support travelers and freight movements.
In the morning, officials announced that rail traffic toward Unecha would be restored gradually. Some passenger services, including routes Novozybkov to Moscow No. 202 and Klimov to Moscow No. 86, were expected to experience delays.
What happened?
Early on May 1, residents reported two blasts followed by a derailment of the freight train. A nearby eyewitness described rushing to the scene to assist as the events unfolded. A Telegram channel identified as Baza reported that a man in dark clothing with a black backpack rode a bicycle near the site when the explosions occurred.
Witnesses described the man as attempting to reach the site to shorten his journey. The Unechsky district declared a security or precautionary plan as the area faced the incident.
Telegram channels also offered varying descriptions of the suspect, with some notes suggesting a man around 40 years old, about 170 cm tall, and others describing a younger man with a beard wearing a Miratorg-branded jumpsuit on a bicycle. Reports from Ren TV indicated that law enforcement officers were searching for a man, possibly 30 years old, who matched those characteristics. Other channels hinted at multiple suspects and ongoing investigative calls, with residents in nearby settlements being interviewed and select sites checked.
Further posts cited two possible participants who may have played roles in the incident, with claims that security cameras were compromised and that one individual placed the device while another monitored the area. Local residents reported seeing unusual activity and contacted authorities. An initial assessment estimated the explosive power at a minimum equivalent to 200 grams of TNT.