Russian forces, while repelling an attack by two Ukrainian drones, allegedly “disoriented” them using electronic warfare, causing one to damage the road bridge at Chonhar.
The claim came from Vladimir Saldo, the Russian-installed head of the occupied Kherson region, who said specialists from the “Dnepr” grouping and “Russian Dome” had “distinguished themselves.” He posted photos of the aftermath on Telegram.
According to Saldo, the second drone fell into the Sea of Azov.
“Experts are now studying the nature of the damage to ensure quick repairs. Traffic on the bridge was neither halted nor restricted,” he said.
The bridge sustained damage after the drone allegedly “fell” on a tangent. Railings and part of the roadway were destroyed.
The bridge crosses the Sivash lagoon, linking the Russian-occupied mainland part of Ukraine with Crimea, which has been under Russian occupation since 2014. Russian media say the bridge “is part of the land corridor to Crimea - the federal R-280 ‘Novorossiya’ highway.”
Russian occupation forces use the bridge as a key logistics artery to move ammunition and equipment for fighting on Ukraine’s mainland.
In June 2023, Ukraine’s armed forces struck the Chonhar bridge with long-range missiles.
Commenting at the time, Andriy Yusov, a representative of Ukraine’s Defense Intelligence (GUR), said it was part of ongoing, methodical work and suggested such events would continue.
In August that year, Ukrainian forces again targeted bridges at Chonhar and in Henichesk. Saldo said at the time that Ukrainian troops struck the Chonhar bridge and the settlement of Chonhar with Storm Shadow missiles.
In January last year, Ukrainian Forces hit the Chonhar bridge again.
