Russian foreign ministry claims Ukraine used western rockets to attack bridge in Kursk region
Russia’s Foreign Ministry has accused Ukraine of using Western-made rockets, likely U.S.-manufactured HIMARS, to target and destroy a bridge over the Seym River in the Kursk region. The attack, which occurred in the Glushkovo district, reportedly resulted in the deaths of volunteers who were engaged in evacuating civilians, according to Maria Zakharova, the ministry’s spokeswoman. Zakharova made the statement on Telegram late Friday.
The incident marks the first reported use of Western rocket launchers in the Kursk region. Ukrainian army chief Oleksandr Syrskyi confirmed that Ukrainian forces had made advances of between 1 and 3 kilometers (0.6 to 1.9 miles) in various parts of Kursk over the past 11 days, following their incursion into Russian territory. Since August 6, Kyiv claims to have gained control over 82 settlements across an area of 1,150 square kilometers (440 square miles) in the region.
Russia has criticized Western support for Ukraine, accusing it of encouraging Kyiv’s “terrorist invasion” and asserting that this offensive will not alter the overall trajectory of the war. Meanwhile, U.S. officials have justified the use of American weaponry by framing Ukraine’s actions as a defensive response to Russian aggression, emphasizing that President Joe Biden’s administration is committed to countering Russian advances since the invasion began in February 2022.
