On Saturday, Russian forces launched a wide-scale military operation targeting vital areas relied upon by Ukrainian forces in their movements. According to a statement by the Russian Defense Ministry, Russian forces targeted the northern automobile bridge over the Dnieper River in Kyiv, as it facilitates the movement of Ukrainian forces. This bridge is the second major bridge in Kyiv targeted by Moscow in recent days.
The bridge, located on the Dnieper River, is one of eight main bridges for vehicles and railways in the capital, which Ukrainian authorities have been concerned about since the start of the Russian-Ukrainian conflict on February 24, 2022. This attack is part of a series of rare and extensive strikes on Kyiv's main transportation lines since the outbreak of the conflict. In addition to the bridge, Russian forces also targeted a cargo ship in the Black Sea that was delivering supplies to the Ukrainian port city of Odessa.
According to the Russian Defense Ministry, the cargo ship was targeted while sailing in the northwestern part of the Black Sea. Meanwhile, Vasily Migeev, head of the press center for the Russian "North" group, stated that Ukrainian forces in the Kharkiv region have suffered human losses of up to 35 personnel, in addition to the loss of three quad bikes, during the past 24 hours.
Migeev added that the "North" group continues to tighten the siege around Ukrainian formations in the northeastern Kharkiv region and expand the external scope of control. The governor of the border city of Belgorod, located on the Ukrainian border, reported that a Russian citizen was killed and two others were injured in Ukrainian attacks on 12 municipalities in the region during the past 24 hours.
In response, Ukrainian forces announced that they had carried out a "daring" operation using robots dropped behind enemy lines and armored personnel carriers of the "Trojan Horse" type loaded with explosives, resulting in the capture of over 250 Russian soldiers. According to the Ukrainian narrative, their forces have begun to gradually regain control of areas controlled by Russia in the Donbass region of eastern Ukraine.
This was part of a counterattack called "Operation Vivaldi," which included the use of unmanned aerial vehicles, unmanned ground vehicles, and armored personnel carriers. The commander of the Ukrainian Third Corps, Andrei Belitsky, emphasized that Ukrainian forces succeeded in deploying robotic systems equipped with heavy firepower over 10 kilometers behind Russian lines during the attack.
These unmanned ground systems were able to attack Russian forces from an unexpected direction, thanks to command centers located deep in Ukrainian-controlled territory. The clashes between Russian and Ukrainian forces continue, with both sides reporting losses and gains in different areas of the conflict.
Key points
- Russian forces target vital centers in Ukraine, including bridges and cargo ships.
- Ukraine claims capture of over 250 Russian soldiers in a "daring" operation.
- Both sides report losses and gains in different areas of the conflict.
