Ukraine Targets Bridges in Russia's Kursk Region, Claims Further Advances
Facts
- Ukrainian forces destroyed a key bridge in Russia's Kursk region on Friday, with reports suggesting another was also targeted in Ukrainian attacks.[1]
- Video footage posted by Ukraine's Air Force appeared to confirm the destruction of a bridge over the Seym River near the village of Glushkovo.[2]
- In a statement alongside the video, Lt. Gen. Mykola Oleshchuk, head of Ukraine's Air Force, said: 'The Air Force's aviation actively participates in the hostilities on the Kursk front. Ukrainian pilots used high-precision strikes to target enemy strongholds, clusters of equipment, logistics centres, and hostile supply routes. I commend the pilots and everyone involved in the aircraft combat!'[2]
- However, Russia's foreign ministry spokeswoman, Maria Zakharova, alleged that Western rockets, likely US-provided HIMARS, had been used in the attack. Zakharova added: 'As a result of the attack on the bridge over the Seym River in the Glushkovo district, it was completely destroyed, and volunteers who were assisting the evacuated civilian population were killed.'[3]
- Reports suggested that Ukrainian forces also targeted a bridge in Zvannoe — roughly four miles (7km) from Glushkovo — though its condition remains unknown at the time of this report.[1]
- Meanwhile, in a report posted to Ukrainian Pres. Volodymyr Zelenskyy's social media, Oleksandr Syrskyi, the head of Ukraine's Armed Forces, alleged that Ukrainian forces in Kursk had advanced an additional 0.6 to 1.9 miles (1 to 3 km) over the past day.[4]
- While it did not quantify the advances, the Institute for the Study of War (ISW), a US military think tank that tracks troop positions in the war, said in its latest report that Ukrainian forces made marginal advances near Sudzha in the Kursk region, namely near the settlements of Mirny and Spalnoye. ISW continued to report a number of Russian gains in eastern Ukraine.[5]
Sources: [1]The Kyiv Independent, [2]Ukrainska Pravda (a), [3]Reuters, [4]Ukrainska Pravda (b) and [5]Understandingwar.
Narratives
- Pro-Ukraine narrative, as provided by Guardian. Ukraine's offensive into the Kursk region is designed to persuade Russia to enter peace negotiations to end the war. Such talks are only possible if Russia sees that Ukraine is capable of inflicting strategic defeats on Moscow.
- Pro-Russia narrative, as provided by TASS. Russian forces continue to suppress Ukraine's offensive in the Kursk region. They are methodically destroying Ukraine's manpower and equipment, and it's only a matter of time before the assault fails. The situation is under control.