While losing the bridge is a blow to Russia's defense of Kursk, a key Ukrainian city in Donetsk may soon fall.
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Ukraine Drops Key Russian Bridge In Kursk
While losing the bridge is a blow to Russia's defense of Kursk, a key Ukrainian city in Donetsk may soon fall.
Howard Altman
Posted on Aug 16, 2024 5:37 PM EDT
11 minute read
Ukrainian Air Force screen cap
Ukraine destroyed a key bridge over the Seim River in Kursk Oblast in what could be a big logistical blow for Russian forces on the 11th day
of the invasion.
The Ukrainian Air Force posted a video on social media showing the moment of impact, with a whole section collapsing into the river.
JDAM-ER or
Hammer standoff guided bombs were likely used to finally take down the bridge. The effects seen are too intense to have been from a
GMLRS guided rocket fired by a
HIMARS or
M270 system, although a
unitary warhead ATACMS would be capable of it.
“Air Force aviation takes an active part in combat operations in the Kursk direction,” the
Ukrainian Air Force said in a Telegram message accompanying the video, which you can see below. “Ukrainian pilots hit enemy strongholds, accumulations of equipment, as well as logistics centers and enemy supply routes with high-precision strikes. Thanks to the pilots and everyone who ensures the combat work of aviation!”
The bridge was submerged
pic.twitter.com/bLJtaxgCuo
— Ukrainian Air Force (@KpsZSU)
August 16, 2024
Earlier, Russian media and milbloggers claimed the bridge was struck by two volleys of HIMARS rockets. They showed a section of the bridge near the town of Glushkov damaged with a burning vehicle on it and then fully collapsed into the water. It is located about seven miles north of the border.
A bridge over the Seim River in Kursk Oblast was destroyed by Ukraine. (
Mash)
The Seim River snakes around a large section of this part of Kursk, and continues into Ukraine. The bridge in Glushkov is one of three in the area, but the furthest to the east, less than 10 miles from Ukrainian-held territory. Its destruction could be a large blow to Russian efforts to supply the area.
The bridge, near Glushkov, is key to Russian logistics because the Seim River snakes around the area. (Google Earth image)
“Part of the Glushkov district is now cut off,” the Russian
MASH news outlet explained on Telegram. “This is Tetkino, Popovo-Lezhachi, Volfino and about 27 more settlements. The civilian population can now only be evacuated by water.”
The bridge across the Seim is the main route for delivering ammunition and food for the Russian group in this area, according to Russian media.
The Russians however appear to be building pontoon bridges across the river to bring in supplies, however that could also easily be targeted by HIMARS and standoff air strikes.
Lapin has a pontoon bridge deployed to the East already, but this might be in AFU arty range already.
The terrain to the west is quite difficult
pic.twitter.com/t3MGqTieeg
— imi (m) (@moklasen)
August 16, 2024
Destroying the bridge is a sign that Ukraine seeks to capture the Glushkov district, Russian milbloggers said.
“In a rough approximation, the Ukrainian Armed Forces currently have three plans for the near future,” for the area, the
Russian MiG of Russia Telegram channel posited last week. “If it goes well,” Ukrainian forces will “take fire control of the E38 highway in the Glushkov-Kursk section, possibly striking from the Glushkhov side as well.”
The E38, about 15 miles north of Glushkov, is an important east-west artery in the middle of Kursk Oblast.
“If it doesn’t go well,” Ukraine could “bite off a piece, occupying the heights on the bank of the Seim, and digging in…for further bargaining,” MiG of Russia suggested. “A direct attack on the nuclear power plant is extremely unlikely and makes no political sense. The movement towards Kursk has a certain military-political meaning for the enemy, but it requires time for regrouping and large forces, so it is also not particularly likely.”
This is at least the third known attempt by Ukraine to destroy the bridge. It was
struck yesterday by U.S.-donated M142 High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems,
or HIMARS-launched guided rockets but damaged, not destroyed, and again on
Aug. 13 as well.
The Russian Defense Ministry (MoD) posted video showing what it claims was the destruction of two more HIMARS in Ukraine Sumy Oblast, bordering Kursk.
The MoD said the HIMARS had “delivered strikes at Kursk region” and “were destroyed near Miropolye,” a town in Sumy. It is located about 2.5 miles from the border and about 35 miles from the bridge, though it is unknown at the moment from where it was attacked.
“Two missile strikes hit the positions of the U.S.-made HIMARS MLRS launchers. As a result, two HIMARS MLRS, a transport-loading vehicle, and two ammunition packages (12 rocket-propelled projectiles) were destroyed,”
the MoD claimed on Telegram. “The footage shows explosions, detonation of ammunition, ignition, and a rocket projectile leaving the system.”
Yesterday, Russia released video purporting to be another HIMARS destroyed in Sumy. We cannot independently verify these claims and reached out to the Pentagon for further details.
Russia claims it destroyed two more Ukrainian MLRS (they think its HIMARS) in Sumy region.
pic.twitter.com/K0drpWxVgt
— Clash Report (@clashreport)
August 16, 2024
The Russian MoD made no mention of the bridge in its latest assessment but again claimed that it was thwarting the invasion.
“Active actions of Sever Group of Forces’ units, unmanned aerial vehicles, and artillery strikes repelled an attack launched by assault detachments of the AFU 82nd Air Assault Brigade near Russkoye Porechnoye,”
the MoD claimed on Telegram.
“One attack launched by the enemy’s assault detachment supported by five armored fighting vehicles through the State Border in the direction of Gorgeyevka was repelled,” the MoD stated. “Army Aviation, unmanned aerial vehicles, and artillery fire eliminated the enemy’s mobile groups attempting to get to the depth of the Russian territory one kilometer west of Anastasiyevka and 1.5 kilometers southeast of Kauchuk.”
The MoD also said it inflicted damage to personnel and equipment assigned to Ukraine’s 22nd and 61st Mechanized Brigades, 95th Air Assault Brigade, and 129th Territorial Defence Brigade near Aleksandriya, Snagost, Mirnoye, Kazachiya Loknya, Korenevo, Plekhovo, and Pushkarnoye.
Meanwhile, a
CNN reporter near the border with Kursk showcased Ukraine’s ability to pour troops into that region.
CNN reporter can't believe how easily Ukraine is fully invading the Kursk region of Russia.
pic.twitter.com/VKKMLuuxWK
— Jay in Kyiv (@JayinKyiv)
August 16, 2024
Ukrainian troops have advanced one to three kilometers deeper into Kursk, Col.-Gen. Oleksandr Syrskyi told President Volodymr Zelensky, according to a tweet from the
Hromadke news outlet.
“The army is provided with everything and the logistics system is working smoothly,” he said. “Meanwhile, Eduard Moskalyov, the newly appointed head of the military commandant’s office in the controlled territories of Kursk Oblast, has already begun his duties.”
The army is provided with everything and the logistics system is working smoothly. Meanwhile, Eduard Moskalyov, the newly appointed head of the military commandant's office in the controlled territories of Kursk Oblast, has already begun his duties.
— Hromadske Int. (@Hromadske)
August 16, 2024
In his latest situation report, Zelensky also highlighted the increasingly tense situation in the Donbas.
“Report from Commander-in-Chief [Oledkandr] Syrskyi. The frontline remains our top priority, particularly the Pokrovsk and Toretsk directions,” he said on social media. “The Kursk region operation—we are strengthening our positions and replenishing the ‘exchange fund’ for Ukraine. I am grateful to each of our warriors.”
Report from Commander-in-Chief Syrskyi.
The frontline remains our top priority, particularly the Pokrovsk and Toretsk directions.
The Kursk region operation—we are strengthening our positions and replenishing “exchange fund” for Ukraine.
I am grateful to each of our warriors.…
pic.twitter.com/Mc7j7fC8j5
— Volodymyr Zelenskyy / Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa)
August 16, 2024
Russian brehs working min. wage jobs need to jump on this ASAP.
Moscow get that money, long time no cash.
(@NOELreports) 
(@GrandpaRoy2) 
