LONDON — The Ukrainian military destroyed a bridge inside Russia that had been critically important for carrying Russian supplies, marking the second such bridge destroyed within days, the Ukrainian Air Force said Sunday.
The bridge had crossed the river Seym in the Kursk region, the area in western Russia where Ukrainian forces have been carrying out a large-scale ground incursion. Ukraine said last week it controlled some 80 settlements in Russia. Hundreds of thousands of Russians have been ordered to evacuate the area, according to Russian outlets.
Smoke billows from a bridge over the Seym river in the Glushkovo district, following a Ukrainian strike in the Kursk region, Russia, in this still image taken from a social media video released on August 16, 2024.
Ukraine’s Air Force Commander Mykola Oleshchuk via Reuters
The strike on the bridge was expected to deprive Russia of “logistical capabilities,” Ukrainian Air Force Commander Mykola Oleschuk said in a post shared Sunday on the messaging app Telegram by the Ukrainian Air Force.
“Minus one more bridge!” the commander said in Ukrainian, which was translated by ABC News.
Oleschuk’s post was accompanied by a video that appeared to show plumes of smoke rising from the bridge, followed by a closer shot of the bridge’s tarmac with a hole in it.
A satellite image shows a bridge collapsed over the Seym River in the Glushkovo district, following a Ukrainian strike in the Kursk region, Russia, August 17, 2024.
2024 Planet Labs Inc. via Reuters
Oleschuk and the Air Force had posted on Friday a similar video, which appeared to show the destruction of another bridge on the same river. That video appeared to show greater destruction, with a length of the bridge completely destroyed.
“Ukrainian pilots use high-precision strikes against enemy strongholds, accumulations of equipment, as well as enemy logistics centers and supply routes,” Oleschuk said.
ABC News’ Joe Simonetti and Camilla Alcini contributed to this report.
Ukraine has recently claimed that it successfully destroyed several Russian supply bridges during its incursion into the Kursk region. This development marks a significant blow to Russian forces and could potentially disrupt their ability to effectively supply troops in the area.
The Kursk region, located in southwestern Russia, has been a key battleground in the ongoing conflict between Ukraine and Russia. Ukrainian forces have been engaged in a series of offensives in the region in an attempt to push back Russian troops and gain control of strategic territory.
The destruction of the supply bridges is a major setback for Russian forces, as they rely heavily on these routes to transport essential supplies such as food, ammunition, and fuel to their troops on the front lines. Without these bridges, Russian forces may struggle to maintain their operations in the region and could face logistical challenges in resupplying their troops.
Ukraine’s successful targeting of the supply bridges demonstrates the country’s growing military capabilities and strategic prowess. By disrupting Russian supply lines, Ukraine has effectively weakened the enemy’s position and gained a tactical advantage in the conflict.
The destruction of the supply bridges also highlights the escalating nature of the conflict between Ukraine and Russia. Both sides have been engaged in a protracted and bloody conflict for years, with no end in sight. The destruction of key infrastructure such as supply bridges further underscores the high stakes involved in this ongoing conflict.
As the situation in the Kursk region continues to evolve, it remains to be seen how Russia will respond to the destruction of its supply bridges. The loss of these key supply routes could force Russian forces to rethink their strategy and tactics in the region, potentially leading to further escalation of hostilities between the two countries.
Overall, Ukraine’s claim of destroying Russian supply bridges during the Kursk incursion is a significant development in the ongoing conflict between the two countries. It underscores the strategic importance of logistics and supply lines in modern warfare and highlights the growing capabilities of Ukrainian forces in their fight against Russian aggression.
