Ukraine Takes Out Third Russian Bridge, Leaving Putin's Troops Isolated and in 'Mortal Danger'
Ukrainian special forces have released footage of them fighting inside Russia, where they have now taken down a third bridge, officials said.
Aug. 20 2024, Published 1:32 p.m. ET
Ukraine has destroyed a third bridge in four days, signaling a bold effort to isolate Russian forces and seize additional territory, RadarOnline.com can reveal.
Kyiv targeted vital crossings over the River Seym, west of its surprising advance into Russian-held land. The river, about 15 kilometers from the Ukrainian border, runs south of a 550 square kilometer area currently under Russian control.
A bomb strike from a jet created a massive hole in the Zvannoe bridge.
Ukraine hit bridges at Glushkovo and Zvannoe over the weekend, and Russian sources reported a third strike overnight at Karyzh.
Professor Michael Clarke told The Sun that these attacks have left Russian troops cut off and in "mortal danger," making it difficult for Russia to reinforce the area south of the Seym or launch counterattacks. This could open the area to a Ukrainian assault.
Russia said Ukraine has taken out a third bridge near Karyzh overnight.
Clarke noted that Russian forces in the area likely consist of poorly trained conscripts, but the exact numbers are unclear.
He also highlighted the risk for Ukraine in potentially spreading its forces too thin, though the proximity to Ukrainian territory could make the area easier to defend.
Experts are concerned that Ukraine could be spreading its forces too thin with this invasion of Russia.
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"They would move up to the Seym River and establish that as a new border for the time being," Clarke said, explaining that a defended river would be a significant obstacle for Russian forces.
In response, Russian engineers have built a pontoon bridge east of Glushkovo, but Clarke warned that this could create bottlenecks, making Russian vehicles easy targets for Ukrainian attacks.
In a speech, Zelensky said Ukraine has the capability to strike 'any point' within Russia deemed a threat by Kyiv.
Dr. Phil O'Brien suggested that Ukraine might be trying to establish a salient — a position where its forces surround Russian troops on multiple sides.
Destroying the bridges, he said, would protect this flank and create opportunities for further territorial gains.
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President Zelensky stated that Ukraine's goal is to create a "buffer zone" between itself and Russia, aiming to inflict maximum damage on Russian forces and bring the conflict closer to a just end.
Ukraine's invasion of Russia, which began on August 6, has already resulted in the capture of 1,000 square kilometers of territory, causing hundreds of thousands of Russian civilians to flee their homes.
The rapid success has been a severe blow to Putin, leading experts to warn that he faces a critical challenge to maintain power.
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