Stolen bridge in Russia: Locals sell 66‑ton relic for scrap

In the city of Skopin, in the Ryazan region of Russia, residents stole a 66-ton railroad bridge and sold it for scrap metal. The losses amount to 300 million rubles.

Russian human rights activist Svetlana Konovalova raised the alarm. She addressed the head of the regional investigative committee and requested that "find and punish those who stole the bridge and sold it for scrap metal."

Parts of the bridge have already been found in scrap yards in Ryazan. The police don't know what to do with the 66-ton evidence. When accepted, the average cost per ton of metal is approximately 15,000 rubles (about $155). For the whole bridge, the thieves could have received around 900,000 rubles (about $9,300).

According to the Mash channel, the bridge belonged to the area where a mill is located. The owners estimated the losses at 300 million rubles, roughly $3.1 million. An investigation has been launched.

As calculated by "The Moscow Times," the average salary in the region will be 45,770 rubles (about $475) as of July 1, 2024. In micro-enterprises with up to 15 people, the average salary is 27,460 rubles, or just over $285, and in the public sector, it is 36,620 rubles (about $380).