Ukraine has launched a stunning cross-border incursion into Russia’s Kursk region, destroying a key bridge and striking a second one nearby, causing chaos and disrupting Russian supply routes. The incursion, which began less than two weeks ago, saw Ukrainian forces drive deep into the region, facing little resistance and sowing panic. The attacks on the bridges, which have been acknowledged by Russia’s pro-Kremlin military bloggers, have left the area with only one intact bridge, complicating Moscow’s attempts to replenish its forces and evacuate civilians.
The destruction of the bridges is seen as a significant blow to Russia’s efforts to repel the Ukrainian incursion, and could signal that Ukraine is planning to dig in and expand its territorial gains. Russia’s air force has been responding to the Ukrainian attacks with air strikes, targeting the capital city of Kyiv, but Ukrainian air defenses have been successful in shooting down most of the incoming rockets.
Ukraine’s military leaders have been tight-lipped about the scope and goals of the incursion, but analysts suggest that it may be intended to create a foothold in the region or to signal to Moscow that Ukraine is prepared to take decisive action. The incursion has already boosted Ukraine’s morale, which had been sagging after a failed counter-offensive last summer and months of Russian gains in the eastern Donbas region.
Russia’s Bridge Destroyed, Ukraine Advances (Image via Getty)
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has urged his allies to lift restrictions on using Western weapons to strike targets deeper in Russia, including in the Kursk region, and has accused Moscow of using North Korean-supplied missiles to attack Kyiv. The incursion has also led to a reported build-up of Belarusian troops along the Ukrainian border, with authoritarian President Alexander Lukashenko claiming that Minsk is responding to the deployment of more than 120,000 Ukrainian troops to the frontier.
The situation is further complicated by reports of a deteriorating safety situation at the Russian-occupied Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant, where an IAEA team reported a nearby drone strike and intense military activity in the surrounding area. Kyiv and Moscow have traded blame for the recent attacks in the vicinity of the plant, with Ukraine accusing Russia of planning to stage an attack and blame Ukrainian forces.
As the situation remains fluid and volatile, it remains to be seen how Russia and Ukraine will respond to these developments, but one thing is clear: the stakes are high and the world is watching with bated breath.
