In a statement released Sunday, the Russian Defence Ministry asserted that its military successfully struck the Northern bridge spanning the Dnipro River in Kyiv. The ministry described the bridge as a critical route used to move troops and military cargo, emphasizing the strategic importance of the target.
The ministry also reported that Russian forces hit two dry‑cargo vessels transporting military equipment to the port of Odesa in the northwestern Black Sea. Earlier, the ministry said a dry‑cargo vessel east of Odesa had been struck overnight, along with a Nova Poshta logistics centre in Chornomorsk and a data centre in Odesa.
According to the Russian statement, air‑defence units intercepted and destroyed 559 Ukrainian drones between 20:00 Moscow time (17:00 GMT) on Saturday and 08:00 Moscow time (05:00 GMT) on Sunday. The drones were said to have operated over several Russian regions and above the Azov and Black Seas.
President Volodymyr Zelenskiy told Reuters that Kyiv would increase attacks on Russian oil refineries. In response, the Russian Defence Ministry pledged to intensify its own strikes against Ukrainian targets, framing the upcoming operations as a direct counter‑measure to Ukrainian aggression.
Reuters noted that it could not independently verify the claims made by either side of the conflict. Both Moscow and Kyiv continue to trade accusations of unverified attacks, underscoring the ongoing information war that accompanies the physical fighting.
The reported hits on the Kyiv bridge and the cargo vessels, if accurate, represent a notable escalation in Russia’s targeting of infrastructure that supports Ukraine’s defence efforts. The bridge, a key logistical artery, and the vessels carrying equipment to Odesa are both vital to Ukraine’s ability to sustain its military operations in the south.
Ukrainian officials have not yet commented on the specific claims, and the international community remains watchful for further developments. The situation highlights the broader strategic contest over supply lines, energy facilities, and critical transport routes that both sides view as essential to their war efforts.
As the conflict persists, the claims of increased drone interceptions and intensified strikes signal a continued escalation that could have broader implications for regional stability and global energy markets.
Original reporting: Appleton, WI News Feed (HLL/CB) — read the source article.
