What's happened
Ukrainian forces have successfully destroyed three strategic bridges over the Seym River in Russia's Kursk region, disrupting supply lines for Russian troops. This offensive, part of a broader incursion that began on August 6, aims to consolidate Ukrainian gains and potentially trap Russian forces in the area.
Why it matters
What the papers say
According to The Guardian, President Volodymyr Zelenskiy stated that Ukraine's actions in Kursk demonstrate that Kremlin threats are ineffective, urging allies to support Ukraine more boldly. Meanwhile, The Independent reported that the destruction of the bridges has left Russian forces reliant on a single pontoon bridge, which is vulnerable to Ukrainian strikes. Metro highlighted that the attacks have already slowed Russia's response to the incursion, indicating a significant shift in the conflict dynamics. Business Insider noted that the strikes are part of a broader strategy to consolidate gains within Russian territory, despite the risks involved.
How we got here
The conflict escalated with Ukraine's surprise incursion into Russia's Kursk region on August 6, 2024. This marked a significant shift in the war, as Ukrainian forces aimed to capture territory and disrupt Russian logistics by targeting key infrastructure.
More on these topics
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Ukraine is a country in Eastern Europe. It is the second-largest European country after Russia, which borders it to the east and northeast.
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Russia, or the Russian Federation, is a transcontinental country located in Eastern Europe and Northern Asia. Covering an area of 17,125,200 square kilometres, it is the largest country in the world by area, spanning more than one-eighth of the Earth's in
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Volodymyr Oleksandrovych Zelenskyy is a Ukrainian politician, actor and comedian who is the 6th and current president of Ukraine, serving since May 2019.