Two important bridges were attacked by Ukraine in blow to Russian logistics

A Ukrainian attack damaged two bridges in the occupied territories according to officials on both sides of the conflict. Here’s what we know about the strikes from both sources. 

The Chonhar road bridge linking Crimea to mainland Ukraine and a smaller bridge near the town of Henichesk in Kherson Oblast were the two targets of the Ukrainian strikes. 

Photo Credit: Telegram @SALDO_VGA

"The enemy launched a missile strike in the area of the Chonhar bridge in the north of Crimea," wrote the Russian-appointed head of Crimea Sergei Aksyonov on Telegram. 

"One hit, part of the missile was hit by air defense," Aksyonov continued according to a translation from Reuters, adding that repairs had already begun on the damaged road.  

Photo Credit: Telegram @SALDO_VGA

Aksyonov also noted that traffic would be diverted from the Chonhar Bridge towards the direction of Armyansk and Perepkop checkpoints and he asked residents to stay calm. 

The strike against Chonhar Bridge was confirmed by Moscow’s acting head of Kherson Oblast Vladimir Saldo and he also confirmed the bridge near Henichesk was attacked. 

Saldo claimed the two bridges were struck by Storm Shadow missiles provided by the UK and that the Henichesk strike cut off gas supplies to 20,000 residents CNN reported.

“It’s this kind of sneaky missile attack that can’t be forgiven. It’s like a wounded animal snapping back,” Saldo said, adding the attacks did nothing to affect Russia’s war effort. 

“They have decided to take petty revenge on civilians and those who are now moving through the territory of the Kherson region,” Saldo continued. But Kyiv wouldn’t agree. 

The attacks on the two Russian-controlled bridges were also confirmed by Ukraine in a rare admission from the country’s armed forces that it was targeting key infrastructure. 

The Strategic Communications Department of the Commander-in-Chiefs Office posted a statement on its Telegram channel on August 6th announcing Kyiv’s successful attacks. 

A translation from Ukrainform read: "Around 15:00, Ukraine’s Defense Forces hit two key logistics routes used by the occupiers—the Chonhar and Henichesk road bridges." 

Photo Credit: Telegram @SALDO_VGA

Ukraine has been targeting the key transit infrastructure that links occupied Crimea to the mainland in order to slow down the supply of Russian troops in southern Ukraine. 

The Chonhar Bridge was hit by a similar attack at the end of July, one that saw both the road and rail sections based on video evidence according to a report from Newsweek. 

That attack was done in order to disrupt Russian logistics according to a statement from Nataliya Humeniuk, a spokesperson for Ukraine’s Southern Operation Command. 

"We continue to work on the destruction of what they have already stockpiled, and we are working to ensure that logistics do not allow them to restock," Humeniuk said based on a Newsweek translation.

June 22nd also saw an attack on the Chonhar Bridge based on claims made by Sergei Aksyonov on his Telegram channel, showing images of extensive damage to the bridge. 

Photo Credit: Telegram @SALDO_VGA