Ukrainian Forces Sever Key Russian Supply Line in Kursk Region
Ukrainian forces have successfully destroyed a crucial bridge over the Seym River in Russia’s Kursk region, escalating their ongoing incursion. Russian officials have confirmed that this operation, conducted near the town of Glushkovo, has effectively isolated a segment of the local district, cutting off vital supply lines.
The bridge, which played a significant role in the Kremlin’s logistics chain for its military operations, now lies in ruins. This setback is expected to hinder Russian troop movements and resupply efforts in the area.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky announced that Ukrainian forces are fortifying their positions within the Kursk region. He referred to the captured territories as a potential bargaining chip, suggesting they could be exchanged for Ukrainian regions currently occupied by Russia.
The bridge’s destruction marks the second week of Ukraine’s deepest foray into Russian territory since Moscow launched its full-scale invasion over two years ago. This bold cross-border offensive has forced more than 120,000 residents to flee for safety.
Despite these advances, Kyiv has reiterated that it has no intention of holding Russian territory. A senior advisor to President Zelensky, Mykhailo Podolyak, emphasized that Ukraine’s primary goal is to compel Moscow to engage in negotiations on terms favorable to Kyiv. He noted that the situation in the Kursk region demonstrates the effectiveness of military pressure in achieving this objective.
Oleksandr Syrsky, the head of Ukraine’s military, reported continued progress in the offensive. Speaking to President Zelensky in a video shared on social media, Syrsky stated that Ukrainian forces had advanced between one and three kilometers in certain areas. He expressed optimism about capturing numerous Russian soldiers in an ongoing battle near the village of Mala Loknya, located approximately 13 kilometers from the border.
As Ukraine pushes deeper into Russian territory, authorities in Russia’s Belgorod region, which borders Ukraine, have announced the evacuation of five villages starting Monday. Belgorod Governor Vyacheslav Gladkov shared the news on the Telegram messaging app, urging residents to evacuate and secure their belongings.
Meanwhile, on the eastern front in Ukraine, Russian forces have been making gains of their own. On Friday, Moscow announced the capture of Serhiivka, the latest in a series of towns claimed by Russian troops in recent weeks. These advances bring Russian forces closer to Pokrovsk, a critical logistics hub vital for the supply of Ukrainian troops along the eastern front.
Pokrovsk, located northwest of the Russian-occupied Donetsk region, has been under Ukrainian artillery fire since early Friday, resulting in multiple civilian casualties. Sergiy Dobryak, head of the city’s military administration, issued a plea for evacuation as Russian forces close in on the city.
In another development, Russian-installed officials in the Moscow-controlled part of Ukraine’s Donetsk region accused Kyiv of launching a strike on a shopping center, injuring at least seven people. Denis Pushilin, the Russia-backed governor of the self-proclaimed Donetsk People’s Republic, reported that the city has been under heavy shelling since midday Friday. According to regional officials, three civilians were killed and five others injured in the past 24 hours.
In Crimea, which Russia annexed in 2014, missiles targeting a bridge built under President Vladimir Putin’s orders were intercepted overnight, according to the Russian defense ministry. Kyiv has repeatedly targeted the Kerch Bridge, a critical link between Crimea and mainland Russia, as part of its broader military campaign against Moscow’s forces.
