Ukraine attacks key Kherson bridge in bid to isolate Russian forces

In the Russian-occupied region of Kherson in southern Ukraine, there are multiple, yet unconfirmed, reports of Ukrainian forces conducting new strikes on the strategic Antonivskiy bridge across the Dnieper River.

"Explosions in the Antonivskiy Bridge area," Ukraine's armed forces said in a Telegram update just before midnight alongside a video purportedly showing a barrage of strikes, according to The Guardian.

Kyiv Independent defence reporter, Illia Ponomarenko, tweeted late Tuesday [July 26] night: "Reportedly, we have another heavy Ukrainian strike upon the Antonivskiy Bridge, the key Russian supply line in occupied Kherson."

Senior presidential advisor, Anton Herashchenko, cited Ukraine's armed forces in an update posted just after 6 am this morning [July 27].

Himars dealt another powerful blow to one of the two bridges across the Dnieper, which are used by the invaders for a massive transfer of troops. Let's hope that this time the Antonivskiy bridge will not withstand the power of the Himars missile attack."

The Antonivskiy Bridge is the main supply route for Russian troops and if damaged, Moscow's forces would potentially be trapped in Kherson with little ammunition and little supplies - part of Ukraine's plan to re-take the city.

Kherson, captured in early March, has long been a focus for the Ukrainians, with the defenders making limited gains in the countryside between Mykolayiv and the target city since April. But, apparently helped by the longer-range weapons, with an effective firing distance of up to 50 miles (80km), the Ukrainians are growing more confident.

The city is accessed by four key bridges. Ukraine's goal appears is not want to destroy the bridges as food supplies are still needed to cross into the city but rather to damage them to the point where the Russians cannot transport heavy equipment across them.