On the morning of 19 August, Russian military blogger Romanov Layt claimed that Ukrainian forces destroyed the last remaining bridge, connecting nearly entire Glushkovo district to the rest of Kursk Oblast. Later, the Russian Telegram channel Readovka and milblogger Yuri Podoliaka.
The information hasn’t yet been confirmed by Ukraine. On the previous days, the Ukrainian Air Force destroyed two of three major bridges over the Seym River, in Glushkovo and Zvannoe, with only one bridge remaining in Karyzh.
If the Karyzh bridge is destroyed, most of Glushkovo District would become surrounded by the river in the north and west, Ukraine’s border in the south, and the war zone in the east. Russia will have to rely exclusively on pontoon bridges and watercraft to supply its grouping of troops in the area.
The last third major bridge over the Seym River reportedly destroyed in Kursk Oblast's Glushkovsky district (upd: photo shows other bridge)
— Euromaidan Press (@EuromaidanPress) August 19, 2024
This is according to a Ukrainian Telegram channel and Russian milblogger Romanov. The move was easily predictable after the destruction of… pic.twitter.com/cc6WWFa7k9
The destruction of all bridges could disrupt the supply lines for Russian forces in southern Glushkovo district, potentially forcing them to withdraw, similar to the situation in Kherson City in 2022, which could allow the Ukrainian Armed Forces to gain control over 600-700 square kilometers of Russian territory.
Ukraine started its incursion into Russia’s Kursk Oblast on 6 August, capturing more than 1,000 square kilometers and hundreds of Russian POWs.
Related:
- Zelenskyy says Kursk operation’s goal buffer zone in Russian territory
- Kursk operation shifts main battles to Russian soil, expert says
- Ukraine’s Commander-in-Chief Syrskyi reports progress in Kursk Oblast operation
- Putin’s nuclear threats proven hollow as Ukraine invades Russia, expert says
- ISW: Ukraine’s surprise Kursk incursion exposes gaps in Russia’s strategic planning
