Russia has accused Ukraine of using Western rockets, likely American HIMARS, to strike a key bridge over the Seym River in the Kursk region, resulting in the deaths of volunteers who were assisting with civilian evacuations.
The attack on the bridge in the Glushkovsky district occurred on Friday as Ukrainian forces advanced into western Russia.
Russian officials have claimed that the bridge was completely destroyed, complicating the evacuation efforts and hindering access to the area.
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The incident comes shortly after the U.S. and NATO allies authorized Ukraine to use their weapons to target locations within Russia.
Analysts, such as Al Jazeera’s Defence Editor Alex Gatopoulos, suggest that the destruction of the bridge will significantly challenge Russian forces by obstructing their defense capabilities and supply lines, potentially forcing a retreat.
The Ukrainian offensive in Kursk is described as the first major incursion by a foreign army into Russia since World War II.
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Ukraine claims to have captured the town of Sudzha and taken control of 82 settlements in Russia since August 6.
Ukrainian officials assert that their goal is not to occupy Russian territory but to use their actions as a bargaining tool in negotiations.
Military analyst Marina Miron notes that the incursion might also be an attempt to relieve pressure from the Donbas region by drawing Russian troops into Kursk.
Moscow, for its part, insists that it is successfully repelling the Ukrainian offensive and inflicting heavy losses, although both sides provide contradictory accounts, complicating independent verification.
