Ukraine has reported the destruction of Russian pontoon bridges in the Kursk region using U.S.-made weapons as part of its incursion into Russian territory. Despite these Ukrainian gains, Moscow claims to have stalled the advance and made progress in eastern Ukraine.
Since crossing into Kursk on August 6, Ukraine has achieved notable successes on the battlefield. However, Russian forces have continued to push forward in eastern Ukraine, putting pressure on Ukrainian troops who have been engaged in conflict for over two years.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has urged international allies to fulfill their commitments to provide munitions, emphasizing the importance of this support for Ukraine’s defense. German Chancellor Olaf Scholz anticipates that the Ukrainian operation in Kursk will be limited in scope and duration, and noted that Berlin was not consulted prior to the incursion.
Ukraine’s Special Operations Forces posted a video showing strikes on several pontoon crossings in Kursk, where at least three bridges over the Seym river have been destroyed. Ukraine’s Foreign Ministry claims that Kyiv has made more substantial territorial gains in Kursk than Russia has in Ukraine this year.
In response, Russia has reported seizing the settlement of Zhelanne, near the transport hub of Pokrovsk, and claims to have halted the Ukrainian advance. Major General Apti Alaudinov announced that Russian forces have started to push Ukrainian troops back and are preparing for potential new attacks.
Both sides have reported significant drone attacks, with Ukraine claiming to have intercepted 50 of 69 Russian drones, and Russia asserting that its defenses destroyed 45 drones, including 11 over Moscow.
Roman Kostenko from the Ukrainian parliament’s national defense committee noted that Russia’s main objective remains the capture of the Donetsk region, despite the incursion. He indicated that Russia is not withdrawing troops from Pokrovsk to reinforce other areas.
Mykola Bielieskov from the Ukrainian National Institute for Strategic Studies stated that attacks on bridges and pontoons will aid Ukraine in establishing a more stable defensive line along the river.
Satellite imagery confirmed the destruction of at least one pontoon crossing set up between August 14 and 17, with visible smoke on August 19. The U.S.-manufactured HIMARS rocket systems were confirmed to be used in these operations, marking the first official acknowledgment of their deployment by Kyiv.
While Washington has not commented directly on the use of U.S. weapons in Kursk, it maintains that its policies have not changed, emphasizing Ukraine’s right to defend itself against Russia’s invasion.
