Russian occupiers want to close Kherson bridge after Armed Forces of Ukraine hit it for the second time – Russian media
IRYNA BALACHUK – WEDNESDAY, 20 JULY 2022, 12:49
The Russian media has reported that the Armed Forces of Ukraine have struck the Antonivka Road Bridge in Kherson for the second time in two days, and now the occupiers have said that it should be closed.
Source: Russian state-sponsored publications RIA Novosti, TASS and Izvestia; collaborator Volodymyr Saldo on Telegram
Quote from collaborator Kirill Stremousov: "Most likely, we will close the bridge to traffic. We will find ways to connect with the left bank. We will build pontoon bridges. I am convinced that the bridge should be closed now."
Details: According to Stremousov, the Armed Forces of Ukraine fired 12 missiles at the Antonivka Bridge from HIMARS and were targeting the "seam of the bridge".
He added that the occupiers scored "about eight hits on the bridge, and part of the rockets were intercepted by the air defence."
Volodymyr Saldo, another collaborator appointed by the occupiers to the post of so-called "head of the administration of the Kherson region", said that traffic on the Antonivka Bridge will be temporarily restricted so that repairs can begin.
Перший заступник голови Херсонської обласної ради Юрій Соболевський показав, як виглядає пошкоджений Антонівський міст у Херсоні. Відео з Telegram Соболевського pic.twitter.com/pFwwltwqT3
— Українська правда ✌️ (@ukrpravda_news) July 20, 2022
According to Saldo, only cars and passenger vehicles will be allowed to cross the bridge; freight vehicles will have to go around the Kakhovska Hydroelectric Power Plant.
Перший заступник голови Херсонської обласної ради Юрій Соболевський закликає мешканців не користуватися пошкодженим Антонівським мостом у Херсоні. Відео з Telegram Соболевського pic.twitter.com/Q8eIFiymhL
— Українська правда ✌️ (@ukrpravda_news) July 20, 2022
Why this is important: the Antonivka Road Bridge is an important transport artery which the invaders use to deliver equipment and ammunition from occupied Crimea.
Previously: On the morning of 19 July, explosions were heard in occupied Kherson. Russian media reported that the Armed Forces of Ukraine had fired 6 rockets at Russian targets, and that one of them fell in the area of the Antonivka Road Bridge.
The regional council later reported that the strategically important Antonivka road bridge in Kherson had been damaged, but it was still possible to use it..
Background:
- In recent weeks, the Armed Forces of Ukraine have been destroying many of the Russian forces’ ammunition depots in Russian-occupied cities.
- On 18 July, the Armed Forces of Ukraine struck a stockpile of weapons, equipment and ammunition near Raiske and an ammunition depot in the vicinity of Beryslav in Kherson Oblast. The Russian forces' facilities were destroyed.
- Earlier, the Armed Forces of Ukraine targeted the Russian army’s ammunition depot in Nova Kakhovka.
- At the beginning of July, an ammunition depot in occupied Donetsk, which the Russian invaders had located in the Kamaz Centre in the Kyiv district of the city, was blown up.
- A massive attack on the airfield of temporarily occupied Melitopol, where Russian soldiers were stationed, was also reported.
