Ukrainian air force strikes strategic bridge in Russia's Kursk region

The Ukrainian Air Force has successfully destroyed a strategically crucial road bridge in Russia’s Kursk region. The attack, which targeted the structure over the Seim River in the Glushkovo district, has disrupted a vital supply route for Russian troops.

The Ukrainian Air Force Commander, Mykola Oleshchuk, confirmed the operation by releasing a video on a Telegram channel, showing the bombing of the bridge. Experts have validated the footage as genuine, depicting the bridge in ruins, which underscores the strategic impact of the strike.

“Ukrainian pilots carry out precision strikes against enemy strongholds, against gatherings of equipment, and against the enemy’s logistics centres and supply routes,” remarked Commander Oleshchuk. He expressed gratitude towards the pilots and those supporting the Air Force’s efforts.

The bridge had been subjected to continuous shelling by Ukrainian forces since the incursion’s commencement on August 6. The destruction of this infrastructure significantly hampers the movement of Russian military supplies and reinforcements in the region.

The governor of Kursk, Alexey Smirnov, reported the bridge’s destruction on Friday. Russian military bloggers detailed the sequence of the attack, stating that the bridge was initially hit with U.S.-made rockets before being ultimately destroyed by a glide bomb strike.

Tragically, two volunteers were killed in a car during earlier shelling as they attempted to evacuate civilians to safety. This incident highlights the perilous conditions on the ground amid the escalating hostilities.

Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova condemned Ukraine for utilizing Western-supplied weapons to target civilian infrastructure.

“Those responsible for this inhumane conduct will be punished,” she vowed, decrying the destruction as an act against civilian interests.

Ukraine’s unprecedented ground offensive in the Kursk area comes as part of its broader strategy to counter Russia’s full-scale invasion, which began in February 2022. Kiev aims to leverage these military operations to force Moscow into negotiations to end the protracted conflict.

The use of Western-supplied weapons in such strategic strikes raises questions about the broader implications for international military support and the potential for further escalation. As the conflict intensifies, the international community watches closely, aware of the significant geopolitical ramifications.

The destruction of the bridge in the Kursk region marks a pivotal moment in the ongoing conflict between Ukraine and Russia.