Ukrainian forces target second key Kursk bridge
Ukraine has destroyed a key bridge in Russia’s Kursk region and struck a second one nearby, less than two weeks into its cross-border incursion, disrupting Russian supply routes and possibly signalling that its troops are planning to dig in.
Russia’s pro-kremlin military bloggers have acknowledged the destruction of the first bridge, which spanned the Seim River near the town of Glushkovo, will impede deliveries of supplies to forces repelling Ukraine's incursion, although Moscow could still use pontoons and smaller bridges in the area.
Ukraine’s air force chief, Lieutenant Mykola Oleshchuk, on Friday released a video of a Ukrainian air strike that split the bridge in two.
Less than two days later, Ukrainian troops hit a second bridge in Russia, according to Mr Oleshchuk and the Russian regional governor, Alexei Smirnov.
As of yesterday morning, there were no official reports on where exactly the second bridge attack took place. Russian Telegram channels claimed a second bridge over the Seim, in the village of Zvannoe, had been struck.
According to Russia’s Mash news site, the attacks left the area with just one intact bridge. If confirmed, the Ukrainian strikes would further complicate Moscow’s attempts to replenish its forces in Kursk and evacuate civilians.
Glushkovo lies 7.5 miles north of the Ukrainian border, and about ten miles north-west of the main battle zone in Kursk. Zvannoe is located a further five miles north-east.
Kyiv has been tight-lipped about its lightning push into Russia, the largest attack on the country since the Second World War, which took the Kremlin by surprise and villages and prisoners fall into Ukrainian hands.