The Ukrainians – twice in the last 24 hours – have stopped Russian attempts to cross the Shivarsky Donets River in the Luhansk region, destroying two pontoon bridges near Pilohorivka.
A satellite image collected by the geological intelligence agency BlackSky shows the Russian Pontoon bridge crossing the river shortly after it hit the area around the Ukrainian artillery attack on May 10.
At one end of the bridge smoke rises from the west bank of the Siversky Donets River. On the east coast, pits and smoke are found around Russian military vehicles and on the east coast.
The Granny Drone video, which has been circulating on social media, shows CNN verifying the locality and its credibility, showing the aftermath of the strikes. The bridge, which was found to be half submerged in the river, was destroyed by military attacks.
Additional photos circulating on social media show the Russians attempting to build a second pontoon bridge across the river by drone. The bridge was also blown up by several military vehicles by the Ukrainians.
Crossing Ukraine’s territory – especially its rivers – has repeatedly proved a logistical dream that has hampered Russian military progress for weeks in many parts of Ukraine. In remote areas, or where bridges have been demolished, they use pontoon bridges.
These bridges have been repeatedly targeted and demolished by Ukrainian forces.
CNN previously reported that the bridge first appeared on May 8.
Luhansk Regional Military Administrator Serhiy Hayday said Wednesday that Russians were continuing to try to build bridges across the Shivarsky Donets River. He also said that the Ukrainians had detonated them several times.
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