Ukrainian Air Force destroys key bridge in Russia's Kursk area

Kiev [Ukraine], August 18: The Ukrainian Air Force said it destroyed a road bridge of strategic importance in Russia on Saturday, amid its offensive in the Kursk region.
Ukrainian Air Force Commander Mykola Oleshchuk published a video on a Telegram channel showing the bombing of a bridge, in what experts say is likely to be genuine. The video showed the structure over the Seim River in the Glushkovo district in ruins, destroying a crucial supply route for Russian troops.
Russia earlier reported that the bridge had been destroyed. It had been shelled by Ukrainian forces for days during the incursion into Russian territory, which was launched on August 6. Oleshchuk confirmed that the air force is actively participating in the combat operations of the Ukrainian forces in Russia's Kursk region.
"Ukrainian pilots carry out precision strikes against enemy strongholds, against gatherings of equipment and against the enemy's logistics centres and supply routes," said the commander. "Thanks to the pilots and everyone who supports the air force's fight!"
Russia has destroyed countless Ukrainian bridges, essential parts of the country's energy infrastructure and other civilian structures during the Kremlin's all-out war, causing untold damage and casualties that far outweigh the harm caused by Ukraine's operation in Kursk.
Ukraine's unprecedented ground offensive in the Kursk area comes amid Russia's ongoing full-scale invasion, which was launched in February 2022. Kiev is seeking to force Moscow into negotiations to end the war.
Kursk Governor Alexei Smirnov reported the destruction of the bridge on Friday.
Russian military bloggers said on Telegram the bridge was first shelled with the US-made rockets and then destroyed by a strike with a glide bomb. They also said two volunteers in a car had been killed while trying to bring people to safety during shelling earlier.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky announced on the social media platform X on Saturday further successes in Kiev's offensive in the Russian region of Kursk. Zelensky said that Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces Oleksandr Syrskyi told him that positions in the area have been strengthened and the stabilized area has grown.
Unlike in previous days, no new concrete figures were provided on the number of localities and areas controlled by Kiev in the Kursk region.
According to the latest information from Kiev, Ukraine controls more than 80 localities and 1,500 square kilometres in the region. These figures cannot be independently verified, and experts generally estimate the numbers to be half of those stated by Kiev.
Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova slammed Ukraine for using Western weapons to destroy civilian infrastructure in the Kursk region and vowed those responsible for this "inhumane conduct" would be punished.
Source: Qatar Tribune