Kyiv/Moscow: Ukraine targeted a crucial bridge connecting Crimea and the Kherson province of Russia. On Thursday, Ukraine launched a missile attack on the Chongar Bridge connecting these two provinces. A long-range Storm Shadow missile received from the UK was used for this attack. Two days ago, Russian Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu claimed that Ukraine was planning to attack Crimea and would use missiles provided by the US and the UK for this. Besides, Shoigu had also warned that the United States and the United Kingdom would be directly drawn into the Ukraine conflict if such an attack occurred, and Russia would then launch strong attacks on the interests of these countries. 

Moreover, Ukraine has declared the capture of Crimea as the main objective of the counteroffensive against Russia. The Ukrainian forces are now launching attacks on Kherson and Zhaporizhzhia provinces, which are said to be part of efforts to advance towards Crimea. However, Ukraine has been unable to advance since Russia has built strong defences around these provinces and Crimea. Hence, Ukraine has started using missile and rocket systems obtained from NATO member countries, the US and the UK. 

In the last few days, using the UK’s long-range Storm Shadow cruise missile has appeared successful for Ukraine. In addition, Ukraine targeted the Russian front’s army units and senior military officers using these missiles in Donetsk province. It has come to light that these attacks have killed at least two senior Russian army officers. Storm Shadow attacks were also launched on bases in Bryansk in the Russia-Ukraine border region. Additionally, Russian intelligence has confirmed Ukraine’s increased use of UK missiles.

Furthermore, the Storm Shadow attack on the bridge connecting Kherson and Crimea is said to be part of Ukraine’s aggressive counteroffensive strategy. Since the start of the Russia-Ukraine conflict, Ukraine has targeted Crimea through drone attacks and sabotage. Russia began missile attacks on Ukraine last year after the attack on the bridge connecting Crimea and Russia. Moreover, Russian officials have indicated that the attack on the Kherson-Crimea bridge will also get a similar befitting response. 

Western agencies and officials acknowledged that the ongoing Ukraine counteroffensive failed to achieve the expected success in the initial days. The US military official said that Ukraine’s retaliatory strikes have not been able to make significant progress on any front. Ukraine’s Deputy Defense Minister Hanna Maliar has also confirmed this and said Russian forces have been retaliating strongly. Against this background, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken has announced a new arms aid worth $1.3 billion to Ukraine. 

Meanwhile, Russia claims to have foiled the counteroffensive by carrying out heavy strikes on Ukrainian positions in the Zhaporizhzhia and Kupiansk regions. The Russian Defence Ministry shared information about Russian Su-34 fighter jets targeting Ukraine with a contingent of foreign troops in Kupiansk. Russia has also claimed that all the attacks launched by the Ukrainian army on the Zhaporizhzhia front were unsuccessful on Wednesday.  

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