Kyiv has released images of a destroyed bridge deep inside Russia that was used for transporting weapons. Ukraine has hinted that it may have been behind the attack on a railway bridge in the Russian region of Samara.
The Defence Intelligence of Ukraine claimed responsibility for the explosion on the bridge, stating that it had disrupted traffic in the area. While attacks on Russian infrastructure have become more frequent, it is unusual for Kyiv to publicly acknowledge them.
The railway bridge over the Chapaevka River in Russia’s Samara region was blown up on 4th March 2024, causing damage that will render it unusable for a long time, according to the Ukrainian military intelligence agency. The railway line was reportedly being used by Russia to transport ammunition from a plant in Chapayevsk, located about 1,000km away from the Ukrainian border.
This incident is part of a pattern of explosions targeting Russia’s rail network, which Kyiv claims is being used to support Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine. The Russian railway operator confirmed the incident, stating that rail traffic in the area has been suspended temporarily.
While there have been no reported injuries from the explosion, the Russian Federal Security Service in the Samara region has cordoned off the area around the bridge. Moscow has not yet responded to the Ukrainian claims, highlighting the difficulty in verifying information in the ongoing conflict between the two countries.
This attack marks a new level of confidence from Kyiv in targeting Russian territory, following previous incidents of sabotage in cities like Saratov, Yaroslavl, and Dzerzhinsk. The conflict between Ukraine and Russia has now entered its third year, with the front line in eastern Ukraine characterized by trench warfare.