ISW about Ukrainian attacks on bridges: part of a broader campaign

Author: Tomasz Glen, 21:27, 07.08.2023
Estimated reading time: 2 minutes

The strike by the Ukrainian armed forces on the Chonhar and Henichesk bridges connecting Ukraine with the annexed Crimea is part of a broader Ukrainian campaign. It aims to create better conditions.

ISW about Ukrainian attacks on bridges: part of a broader campaign

War Research Institute on Ukrainian attacks on Chonhar and Henichesk bridges

The strike by the Ukrainian armed forces on the Chonhar and Henichesk bridges connecting Ukraine with the annexed Crimea is part of a broader Ukrainian campaign. It aims to create the conditions for future decisive counter-offensive operations, the American Institute for War Research estimates in its latest analysis.

Ukrainian forces on Sunday attacked two key road bridges for Russian logistics, connecting the occupied Crimea with the occupied part of the Kherson region. According to its latest analysis by the Institute for the Study of War (ISW), this means the need to redirect logistics from shorter routes in the east to longer, located in the more western part of the region.

Referring to materials published by Russian sources, ISW writes that the damage to the bridge in Henichesk is significant, and in Chonhar - less extensive. According to Russian sources, the Ukrainians were to use British Storm Shadow missiles, but this information needs to be verified, adds ISW.

On Sunday evening, the Ukrainian defense ministry confirmed reports of attacks on the bridges. "A game of hide and seek. Last night, dozens of Russian Shahed missiles and drones searched for Ukrainian aircraft and Storm Shadow missiles at airports. But only today, in Chonhar and the vicinity of Genichesk, the Russians finally found them", the ministry wrote on Twitter.

https://twitter.com/DefenceU/status/1688235736674562048

Destroyed back-office resources and logistics

The HEI recalls the actions taken by Ukraine before the liberation of part of the Kherson region. Russian troops were forced to withdraw after the Ukrainian army successfully destroyed enemy rear resources and logistics.

Analysts recall that the Ukrainian authorities have repeatedly declared that the aim of the army's counter-offensive is to degrade Russian logistics and defense capabilities in order to create favorable conditions for future counter-offensive operations.