In a significant blow to Russia's logistics capabilities in southern Ukraine, Ukrainian forces have successfully destroyed a crucial railway bridge in southern Donetsk, according to a Ukrainian official. The attack, which took place on Saturday, targeted a half-built railway bridge that was intended to be part of a direct railway link from Russia to southern Ukraine.

Petro Andriushchenko, adviser to the exiled mayor of Mariupol, revealed the news of the bridge's destruction in a post on the messaging app Telegram on Sunday. He also mentioned that fuel tanks near the village of Hranitne, northeast of Mariupol, were lost in the operation.

The Russian Defense Ministry has not acknowledged the strike on its logistics, as they focused on reporting attacks on Ukrainian troops in other locations. Russia claimed to have attacked Ukrainian forces in Vuhledar, Novomykhailivka, and Staromaiorske over the weekend. However, Ukraine's military stated that Russia attacked more than 10 settlements, including Vuhledar and Staromaiorske, on Sunday.

The railway bridge, initially expected to be a vital part of Russia's transportation network, was reported by Andriushchenko in late September. It was supposed to connect the southern port city of Mariupol to the regional capital of Donetsk City, and ultimately link to Russian cities such as Taganrog and Rostov-on-Don. The completion of this bridge would have significantly reduced Russia's reliance on the Crimean Bridge, currently used for transporting troops and supplies.

Ukraine has repeatedly targeted Russia's railway infrastructure, as it plays a crucial role in sustaining Russia's invasion. The British Defense Ministry emphasized the vulnerability of Russia's rail network in occupied Ukraine, acknowledging sporadic interdictions by Ukrainian artillery, air-launched missiles, and sabotage.

Although Ukraine's summer counteroffensive aimed to push down through the "land bridge" connecting Donetsk to the Russian-controlled city of Mariupol, ultimate success fell short of expectations. The Russian "land bridge" remains a swath of Moscow-controlled territory in southeastern Ukraine, extending from the eastern Donbas region to Crimea.

Since the annexation of Crimea in 2014, Russia constructed the Crimean Bridge, also known as the Kerch Bridge, to maintain military supply routes and support its ongoing operations in southern Ukraine. However, the Kerch Bridge has faced multiple attacks from Ukrainian long-range missiles.

This recent destruction of the railway bridge represents a significant setback for Russia's future ability to move resources to and from southern Ukraine. The impact of this targeted strike on Russia's logistics could potentially disrupt their operations and bolster Ukraine's defense efforts.