In a bold move that has disrupted Russian supply routes, Ukraine has reportedly destroyed a significant bridge in Russia's Kursk region and targeted a second one nearby.
This audacious cross-border incursion, which occurred less than two weeks ago, could be an indication that Ukrainian troops are preparing to establish a stronghold.
According to Yahoo News, pro-Kremlin military bloggers in Russia have conceded that the obliteration of the first bridge, located near the town of Glushkovo and spanning the Seim River, will hinder the delivery of supplies to Russian forces resisting Ukraine's incursion. Despite this setback, Moscow could potentially utilize pontoons and smaller bridges in the area. Lt. Mykola Oleshchuk, Ukraines air force chief, unveiled a video on Friday showcasing a Ukrainian airstrike that bisected the bridge.
In less than 48 hours, Ukrainian forces struck a second bridge in Russia, as confirmed by Oleshchuk and the Russian regional governor, Alexei Smirnov. As of Sunday morning, there were no official reports detailing the exact location of the second bridge attack. However, Russian Telegram channels suggested that another bridge over the Seim, in the village of Zvannoe, had been targeted.
Russias Mash news site reported that the attacks left the area with only one intact bridge. The Associated Press could not immediately verify these claims. If confirmed, these strikes by Ukraine would further complicate Moscow's efforts to reinforce its forces in Kursk and evacuate civilians.
Kyiv has remained reticent about the planned scope and objectives of its swift push into Russia, the largest attack on the country since World War II. This unexpected offensive took the Kremlin by surprise and resulted in numerous villages and hundreds of prisoners falling into Ukrainian hands.
The Ukrainians penetrated deep into the Kursk region from various directions, encountering minimal resistance and causing widespread chaos and panic. Gen. Oleksandr Syrskyi, Ukraines Commander in Chief, claimed last week that his forces had advanced across 1,000 square kilometers of the Kursk region. However, it was not possible to independently verify the extent of Ukrainian control.
The strikes on the bridges, seemingly intended to thwart a Russian counterpush in Kursk, could suggest that Kyiv aims to secure a foothold in the region, or at least signal to Moscow its intention to do so.
Analysts have suggested that while Ukraine could attempt to consolidate its gains within Russia, such a maneuver would be risky given Kyivs limited resources. Supply lines extending deep into Kursk would be vulnerable to Russian strikes.
The incursion has already boosted Ukraines morale, which had been eroded by a failed counteroffensive last summer and months of slow Russian gains in the eastern Donbas region. It has demonstrated Ukraine's ability to seize the initiative.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy late on Saturday urged Kyivs allies to lift the remaining restrictions on using Western weapons to strike targets deeper in Russia, including in Kursk. He stated that his troops could deprive Moscow of any ability to advance and cause destruction if granted sufficient long-range capabilities.
Russia's Foreign Ministry and pro-Kremlin bloggers have alleged that U.S.-made HIMARS launchers have been used to destroy bridges on the Seim. These claims could not be independently verified.
Ukraines leaders have repeatedly sought authorization for long-range strikes on Russian air bases and other infrastructure used to pummel Ukraines energy facilities and other civilian targets. These include retrofitted Soviet-era glide bombs that have devastated the countrys industrial east in recent months.
Moscow also appears to have intensified attacks on Kyiv, targeting it with ballistic missiles for a third time this month early on Sunday, according to the head of the municipal military administration. Serhii Popko said in a Telegram post that the almost identical August strikes on the capital most likely used KN-23 missiles supplied by North Korea.
A subsequent attempt to target Kyiv occurred around 7 a.m, Popko said, this time launching Islander cruise missiles. He reported that Ukrainian air defenses struck down all targets fired in both attacks on the city on Sunday morning. These recent developments underscore the escalating tensions and the potential for further conflict in the region.
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