Ukraine Claims Destroyed Another Strategic Bridge in Russia's Kursk Region

JAKARTA - Ukraine's air force has destroyed another strategic bridge over the Seym River in Russia's Kursk region, limiting the supply capacity of Russian forces trying to halt Ukraine's advance, a Ukrainian commander said on Sunday.

Kyiv says it has captured more than 80 settlements over 1,150 square kilometers (444 square miles) of Kursk since launching a surprise attack across the border on Aug. 6, the largest invasion of Russia since World War Two.

"Kursk direction. Minus one more bridge! Ukrainian Air Force aviation continues to deprive the enemy of its logistical capabilities with precision air strikes, which significantly affects the course of hostilities," Ukrainian Air Force Chief of Staff Lieutenant General Mykola Oleshchuk said on the Telegram messaging app, according to Reuters on August 19.

He posted a video showing a rising cloud from an explosion on a bridge and part of it destroyed. Reuters could not independently confirm the destruction of the bridge or the situation on the battlefield in Kursk.

The bridge was the second to be struck by Ukraine since Friday last week.

Earlier, military analysts said there were three bridges in the Ukrainian army's offensive area through which Russia supplies its troops, two of which had been destroyed or badly damaged.

"Our operation in the Kursk region is still causing losses for the Russian army and the Russian state, their defense industry and economy," President Volodymyr Zelensky said in an evening televised address.

He thanked Ukrainian forces involved in the Kursk operation and on the eastern front, calling on the country's allies to speed up the delivery of promised military aid.

"Regarding the delivery from our partners - it needs to be accelerated, we strongly request it. War knows no holidays," President Zelensky continued.

Russia itself called the attack a major provocation and vowed to respond with an "appropriate response," more than 2 1/2 years since launching a full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.