Aug 21 (Reuters) – Ukrainian forces are using U.S.-manufactured HIMARS rocket systems to destroy pontoon bridges and engineering equipment in Russia’s Kursk region, Ukraine’s military said on Wednesday, targeting logistics in its major cross-border incursion.
“Where do Russian pontoon bridges ‘disappear’ in the Kursk region?
Washington has made no direct comment regarding the use of U.S.-made weapons in Kursk region, while saying its policies had not changed and that Ukraine was defending itself from Russia’s attacks.
The Kremlin has described the use of U.S.-made weapons inside its territory as an escalation.
The video posted by special forces showed strikes on several pontoon crossings.
It was likely set up between Aug. 14 and Aug. 17 between the Russian settlements of Zvannoe and Glushkovo after two bridges were destroyed or damaged earlier.
While Kyiv has reported a string of battlefield successes since it crossed unexpectedly into Russia’s Kursk region on Aug. 6, Russia has pressed forward on the front line in eastern Ukraine, two and a half years since its full-scale invasion.
Ukraine’s Foreign Ministry has said the advance in the Kursk region made bigger gains than Russia had captured since the start of the year.
July 21 (Reuters): Ukrainian troops are employing U. s. As part of its massive cross-border incursion, the Ukrainian military said on Wednesday that it had produced HIMARS rocket systems to destroy engineering equipment and pontoon bridges in the Kursk region of Russia. The goal was to target logistics.
Operators do not know where the Russian pontoon bridges in the Kursk region “disappear.”. exterminate them precisely,” the Special Operations Forces of Ukraine stated over Telegram.
The declaration stated U. S. -produced HIMARS rocket systems were employed. Western weapons are a part of the unprecedented offensive, according to Kyiv’s first official statement.
Regarding the use of U.S. resources, Washington has not directly commented. S. -made weaponry in the Kursk region, claiming that Ukraine was defending itself against Russian attacks and that its policies remained unchanged.
Since Russia’s recent offensive on the Kharkiv region this spring, allies have forbade Ukraine from carrying out long-term strikes inside Russia with Western weapons, but they have permitted Kyiv to use them to target border areas.
According to reports from the Kremlin, U.S. s. As a step up, it produced weapons inside its borders.
Strikes on multiple pontoon crossings were captured on the special forces video that was posted. It seemed as though cluster munitions were used in at least one of the strikes.
Independent verification of the statement and video was not possible for Reuters.
A munitions warehouse and an electronic warfare complex, as well as military trucks, were among the other sites depicted in the video clip featuring drone strikes.
At least one pontoon crossing that appears to have been destroyed has been confirmed by Reuters.
It was probably set up in August. 14 and August. 17 after two bridges that were previously damaged or destroyed, between the Russian settlements of Zvannoe and Glushkovo.
By August, the crossing—which was about 14 kilometers (8 point 7 miles) from the border—was gone. 19, as seen by satellite imagery. Photos taken that day in the area also showed smoke.
Though since it unexpectedly entered Russia’s Kursk region on August, Kyiv has claimed a number of military victories. Six months after launching a full-scale invasion, Russia has continued to advance on the front lines in eastern Ukraine.
Svyrydonivka, Zhelanne, and the town of Niu York, which is about 46 kilometers (29 miles) from Pokrovsk, have all been taken over by Russian forces, according to statements made in recent days by the country’s defense ministry.
The military in Kiev has reported intense fighting in the areas, but it has not responded to these claims directly.
The Kursk region advance achieved greater ground than what Russia had taken since the year’s beginning, according to the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry.
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