These images reportedly show the moment a bridge linking Russian-occupied Crimea in southern Ukraine to the Ukrainian mainland is hit by a massive explosion.
The Russian authorities have claimed that British Storm Shadow missiles were used in what they called “another senseless action ordered from London by the Kyiv regime”.
The grainy footage, which appears to be from a security camera, reportedly shows the bridge crossing the Chongar straight in northern Crimea being hit.
The images show the sudden flash of an explosion, with smoke rising into the air as the bridge is apparently hit.
The second piece of footage, obtained from Vladimir Saldo, 67, the Russian-appointed Governor of the occupied Kherson region, reportedly shows him on the damaged bridge today (Thursday, 22nd June).
He can be seen in the footage walking on the bridge and inspecting the damage, with a huge hole shown, indicating that the purported missile apparently punched straight through it.
Saldo said in a statement early this morning: “The criminal Kiev [Kyiv] regime committed a barbarous shelling of civilian facilities – bridges on the administrative border between the Kherson region and Crimea near Chongar.
“Kiev terrorists want to intimidate Kherson residents, sow panic among the population, but they will not be able to do this. We are able to repair bridges quickly: the passage of cars will be restored in the very near future.
“According to a preliminary assessment, British Storm Shadow missiles were used. The road surface on the bridges was damaged. There are no human casualties.
“We have an answer for every step of the enemy. The communication between the Kherson region and the Crimea continues to operate – the movement of vehicles along the reserve route is temporarily organised.”
In a second statement a couple of hours later, he said: “Missile damage to the bridges that connect the Crimea and the Kherson region is another completely senseless action carried out by the Kyiv regime on orders from London. This will not affect the course of the special operation in any way – there are other land routes to the Crimea.
“It is symbolic that the Kiev regime carried out this barbaric act on the morning of 22nd June, the day the Great Patriotic War [World War II] began. They seem to specifically show their historical continuity with Nazi Germany. But they will end up the same.
“I would like to reassure the citizens: the communication with the Crimea continues – there are other ways, albeit a little longer. Food prices, if anyone tries to raise them, will be regulated.
“All problems will be solved. Already, the Government of the Russian Federation is taking measures to eliminate damage to bridge crossings.”
We have not been able to independently verify the claims or the footage.
Andriy Yusov, 40, a spokesperson for the Ministry of Defence of Ukraine, reportedly told Ukrainian media that the Ukrainian military cannot yet comment on the incidents that are taking place in the occupied territories, in particular the damage to bridges in Chongar and on the border with Crimea.
He reportedly added: “The work is ongoing now and will continue. This is the systematic work of the Security Forces, the Defence Forces, the resistance movement, and the local population, which is waiting for the return of Ukrainian legal power in these territories.”
Russia invaded Ukraine on 24th February 2022 in what the Kremlin is still calling a “special military operation”. Today marks the 484th day of the full-scale war.
The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reported that between 24th February 2022 and 22nd June 2023, Russia had lost about 222,650 personnel, 4,013 tanks, 7,783 armoured combat vehicles, 3,941 artillery units, 617 multiple launch rocket systems, 376 air defence systems, 314 warplanes, 307 helicopters, 3,438 drones, 1,214 cruise missiles, 18 warships, 6,678 motor vehicles and fuel tankers, and 539 units of special equipment.
Russia has claimed that its casualties have been much lower but provides infrequent updates on its latest figures.
Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky has admitted that the counteroffensive may be going “slower than desired”.
But he added that he would not needlessly risk his soldiers’ lives to meet international expectations.
The European Union has pledged an additional EUR 50 billion in grants and loans to Ukraine, with the United Kingdom and the United States promising USD 3 billion and USD 1.3 billion in financial support.
The pledges were made at a conference in London geared towards reconstruction efforts in Ukraine.
The World Bank, working with the Ukrainian government and the European Commission, as well as the United Nations, has estimated reconstruction and recovery costs at USD 411 billion.
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said at the summit that Russia will ultimately pay for the reconstruction of Ukraine, saying: “Let’s be clear: Russia is causing Ukraine’s destruction and Russia will eventually bear the cost of Ukraine’s reconstruction.”
UK Foreign Secretary James Cleverly said that all NATO allies were giving their support to a plan to provide Ukraine with a fast track to becoming a member of the Alliance.
He said the United Kingdom was “very, very supportive” of Ukraine being able to join the Alliance without requiring it to meet conditions that are typically set out for NATO membership.
Andriy Yermak, the Ukrainian President’s Chief of Staff, has said that his country expects to be invited to join the Alliance with an “open date” at a NATO summit in Vilnius in July.
The head of the notorious Russian mercenary organisation Wagner, Yevgeny Prigozhin, has accused Russian defence officials of deceiving the Russian people about the progress of Ukraine’s counteroffensive.
He said: “They are misleading the Russian people.”
Prigozhin added: “Huge chunks [of land] have been handed over to the enemy.”
Russia’s Constitutional Court has denied an attempt by rights groups to have a law repealed that bans people from speaking out against the invasion of Ukraine.
European Union governments have agreed on an 11th sanctions package against Russia which is geared towards stopping third countries and companies from circumventing measures that are currently in place to prevent goods and technology from being exported to Russia.
Russia’s President Vladimir Putin has announced that a new Sarmat nuclear-capable intercontinental ballistic missile would soon enter service.
The Russian Ministry of Defence said that air defence systems down three drones in the Moscow region on Wednesday, labelling the incident a “terrorist attack” by Ukraine that targeted a military base near Russia’s capital.
