Impressive video footage shows how Ukraine destroyed key bridges in Kursk

Thanks to social media we've had access to more videos and photos of the war in Ukraine than we ever imagined. Back in August,  Ukrainian Air Force Commander Lieutenant General Mykola Oleschuk shared an impressive a video on his social media accounts which gave an inside look into how Ukraine managed to destroy key bridge in Kursk.

The critical bridge was located near the Russian city of Glushkovo and was strategically important because it provided one of the few places where Russian forces could cross over the Seym River according to BBC News. 

Glushkovo and the surrounding region are located in Kursk Oblast close to the Russian border with Ukraine adjacent to the growing incursion zone Ukrainian troops have taken since launching an invasion into Russia on August 6th. 

The situation in the area has been moving quickly but hindsight has revealed Glushkovo is one of the likely targets of Ukrainian troops according to an August 19th report by the New York Times, making the destruction of the bridge in the area important. 

Politico cited several reports that concluded the destruction of the key road bridge would disrupt Russian logistics in the region, cut off at least 27 settlements, and make it harder for civilians to evacuate from the region. 

Photo Credit: Telegram @ComAFUA

Russian authorities noted that the bridge’s destruction was the first confirmed case that US-supplied High Mobility Rocket Systems (Himars) had been used inside of Russia, and stated they were used in the destruction of the bridge. 

Russian Foreign Affairs spokesperson Maria Zakharova explained, “For the first time the Kursk region was struck by Western-made rockets, probably American Himars” in a long message on Telegram according to a translation of her comments by Business Insider.  

Photo Credit: Telegram @ComAFUA

"As a result of the attack on the bridge over the Seim River in the Glushkovsky district, it was completely destroyed," Zakharova added before claiming the strike killed volunteer workers who had been evacuating civilians. 

Photo Credit: Telegram @ComAFUA

Lt. Gen Oleschuk posted video footage of the attack on Telegram as well with a caption that read: "Ukrainian pilots are conducting precision strikes against enemy strongholds, equipment concentrations, as well as enemy logistics centers and supply routes."

While the road bridge near Glushkovo was an important crossing to destroy, there were two other bridges across the Seym River in the area. However, reports suggest that the other two bridges were also destroyed in the days that followed. 

Photo Credit: X @Osinttechnical / Base Map X @AndrewPerpetua / Images Telegram @zsuwar

The Independent noted that the road bridge in Glushkovo was the first bridge to be hit and destroyed, followed by a bridge in the village of Zvannoye west of Glushkovo which was followed by the destruction of a bridge west of Zvannoye in the village of Karyzh. 

On August 18th, Lt. Gen Oleschuk posted a video on Telegram showing the destruction of the second bridge with the caption, “Minus one more bridge,” according to Business Insider. The video revealed a bridge was completely destroyed. 

Photo Credit: Telegram @ComAFUA

“The air force continues to deprive the enemy of logistical capabilities with precise air strikes, which significantly affect the course of hostilities,” Oleschuk continued according to a translation of his Telegram comments from Radio Free Europe. 

Photo Credit: Telegram @ComAFUA

On August 19th, Russian sources began to report the third bridge over the Seym River was destroyed according to United 24, which if true would deal a major blow to Russian logistics and halt regular supply lines to troops in the area the outlet noted. 

Photo Credit: X @ukraine_map

“If Ukraine confirms the destruction of the third bridge, that would mean that Russian forces are now reliant on receiving military equipment via a makeshift pontoon bridge, according to analysts” explained The Independent Tom Waitling. 

The ramifications of the three destroyed bridges are not yet fully known because it is likely that Ukrainian forces will begin moving into the area in order to carve out an even larger part of Kursk Oblast. 

On August 19th, Volodymyr Zelensky revealed Ukrainian forces have captured at least 92 Russian settlements and 1250 square kilometers or roughly 482 square miles of territory since launching its invasion of Kursk on August 6th, The Kyiv Independent reported. 

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