KYIV: On Sunday, Ukraine announced that it had successfully targeted a second crucial bridge in Russia’s Kursk region, aiming to disrupt Moscow’s supply lines as Kyiv’s unprecedented incursion into Russian territory extended into its second week.
In response, Russia intensified its efforts in eastern Ukraine, claiming to have seized another village located just a few kilometers from the Ukrainian-controlled logistics hub of Pokrovsk.
“Another bridge down,” Ukrainian Air Force Commander Mykola Oleshchuk declared on Telegram, sharing an aerial video of an explosion demolishing a bridge near the Russian town of Zvannoye. “The Air Force continues to impair the enemy’s logistical capabilities with precise air strikes,” he added.
The recent attacks on the bridges, which span the Seym River in Kursk, have restricted Russia’s ability to cross the river in that area, according to Russian military bloggers.
Kyiv’s offensive began on August 6, marking its largest assault on Russian territory since the Kremlin’s invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. Ukraine had previously announced the destruction of another bridge in the nearby town of Glushkovo.
Moscow reported that the destruction of one of the bridges has complicated evacuation efforts. The Russian Defense Ministry noted that it is countering Ukrainian forces near several villages, with more than 120,000 people having fled the region since the conflict erupted, according to Russian authorities.
‘Falling Debris
Early on Sunday, Ukrainian drones targeted an oil storage facility in Russia’s Rostov region, igniting a significant fire, reported the local governor.
Social media footage captured thick black smoke and flames emanating from the blaze in Proletarsk. Governor Vasily Golubev stated on Telegram that air defenses had repelled the drone attack, but debris falling on industrial storage facilities in Proletarsk resulted in a diesel fuel fire.
“Firefighting efforts were briefly halted at 5:35 am due to a second drone attack,” Golubev updated on Telegram. No injuries were reported, and firefighting resumed shortly after, he later confirmed.
A Ukrainian intelligence source noted that the targeted facilities were part of Russia’s “military-industrial complex.” Proletarsk is located approximately 250 kilometers from the Ukraine border and about 350 kilometers from the areas of active fighting held by Kyiv.
