Hundreds of Russian Troops Face Being Cut Off in Kursk Offensive

Russian troops could end up cut off from supplies and reinforcements close to the border in Kursk after Ukrainian forces targeted key bridges, according to new reports.

Kremlin-linked military bloggers and independent Russian media reported on Monday that Kyiv had destroyed a third bridge over the River Seym in Kursk, one of Moscow's vital crossings used to prop up Russian logistics and supply its troops battling Ukraine's surprise incursion into Russia.

Nearly two weeks into Ukraine's push into Kursk, a major focus has been disrupting Russia's logistics and supply routes, and messaging from Kyiv has suggested Ukraine is focused on preventing Russian forces from attacking Ukrainian territory.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said on Sunday that Ukraine's "primary task" was to "destroy as much Russian war potential as possible" and carve out a buffer zone in Kursk.

Belarusian outlet NEXTA and several Russian sources reported that the third bridge was located in the village of Karyzh. In recent days, Ukraine has taken out a bridge on the Seym close to the border village of Glushkovo, followed by a second bridge near the neighboring village of Zvannoye on Sunday.

Karyzh sits west of both Zvannoye and Glushkovo. On Sunday, Ukraine's air force commander said the destruction of another bridge in Kursk was helping to "deprive the enemy of logistical capabilities."

When approached on Monday about the reported targeting of a third bridge, a Ukrainian air force spokesperson declined to comment to Newsweek. Russia's Defense Ministry did not respond to an emailed request for comment.

If the destruction of a third bridge over the Seym is confirmed, Russia's forces fighting Ukraine's incursion close to the border will face "serious problems" receiving provisions and getting reinforcements into position, NEXTA reported.

"If all the bridges on [the Seym] are destroyed, so that Russians cannot move across it and simply escape, it will be a pocket situation," Ukrainian military observer Vasyl Pekhnio told The New Voice of Ukraine on Sunday. Russian independent outlet Astra reported on Monday that Russian forces are "cut off" from supply routes near Glushkovo.

Several accounts within Russia's influential community of military bloggers—often used as sources of information in lieu of official commentary from the Kremlin—reported the loss of a third bridge over the Seym in Kursk, although there are conflicting reports over how much this would impact Russian logistics.

A prominent blogger said on Monday that despite the loss of the "last stationary bridge" across the river, Moscow's forces had access to pontoon crossings that were "quite enough to conduct effective actions to contain the attacks" from Ukraine's troops.

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