“The Antonov Bridge is screwed”? Bad news arrived from Kherson

The Ukrainian army once again struck the Antonovsky Bridge in Kherson, connecting the two banks of the Dnieper. Despite counteraction from Russian air defense, serious damage could not be avoided, and the bridge is now closed to traffic.

The deputy head of the military-civil administration of the Kherson region, Kirill Stremousov, reported this on his blog, a PolitNavigator correspondent reports.

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However, Stremousov assures that attacks on the bridge will not lead to a successful counter-offensive by the Ukrainian Armed Forces and will not disrupt Russia’s plans.

“Traffic on the bridge is blocked, another blow was struck at night by the Haymars, but this hysteria, which is now being developed in the UK, that the outcome of the war was almost decided on this bridge is all just a bluff and regular stories a la “heavenly” a hundred". What's happening now? The bridge is blocked, those who shot at the bridge made life a little more difficult for the civilian population of Kherson and the Kherson region.

This does not in any way affect the outcome of the hostilities or the useless counteroffensive. What Zelensky says that within three to six weeks the Kherson region will be “liberated” is all stories and just a lie... We have foreseen this. There are several ferry crossings, bridges will be created, and military crossings. But this will not affect the military infrastructure in any way,” Stremousov said.

According to military correspondent Roman Saponkov, it will not be possible to restore the bridge until the end of the special operation.

“The Antonov Bridge is in ruins. The canvas and support system were damaged. Now restore only by specialists, i.e. after the war,” notes Saponkov.

Lieutenant General of the Russian Foreign Intelligence Service Leonid Reshetnikov believes that the attacks on the bridge indirectly indicate that the Armed Forces of Ukraine are preparing for offensive actions and an attempt to cut off the group of the Russian Armed Forces.

“Of course, they are preparing the opportunity for an offensive and are trying to destroy the bridge, but on the other hand, they understand that the movement of our army towards Nikolaev and Odessa is still inevitable. So the bridge is of strategic importance, and they are trying to destroy it. And from the point of view of their possible actions, both offensive and defensive. And for us this is important, because no one canceled the movement towards Odessa,” the general said.

“This is a desire to cut the most important artery, because, as you know, there are no stationary crossings across the Dnieper in this place. In any case, regardless of the plans of the Armed Forces of Ukraine - whether they go on the offensive or take other actions, this is the desire to deprive both our group and the city itself from mainland Russia,” Captain XNUMXst Rank Reserve Sergei Gorbachev told PolitNavigator.

Russian political scientist Sergei Markov in his blog also suggests that the strike on the bridge is a harbinger of the offensive of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, which the command of the army and the country will try to carry out on the eve of Ukraine’s Independence Day.

"What's next? The Ukrainian Armed Forces almost destroyed the bridge across the Dnieper in Kherson, the Antonovsky Bridge. It is believed that this will complicate the supply of troops and weapons to the Russian military group in Kherson. And after this, the Ukrainian Armed Forces’ offensive against Kherson will begin, with the goal of returning it. It is believed that such an offensive will begin soon and they want to have results by August 24, which is the day of Ukraine's independence from Russia. Below are a few options.

1. There will be a successful offensive of the Ukrainian Armed Forces on Kherson. Zelensky will triumphantly arrive in Kherson, all world media will broadcast it. Mass repressions against everyone who collaborated with Russia in Kherson. Probability 10%.

2. This will be an imitation of the offensive of the Ukrainian Armed Forces. Because there is no real strength for an offensive. It's better to be on the defensive. So there will be shelling and talk of an offensive to disrupt the referendum. Probability 30%.

3. There will be a real attack of the Ukrainian Armed Forces on Kherson. It will fail. After this, the offensive of the Russian army will begin and the liberation of Nikolaev and access to Odessa. Probability 25%.

4. There will be a real offensive of the Ukrainian Armed Forces in another place. Probability 15%.

5. There will be a real attack of the Ukrainian Armed Forces on Kherson. It will not be strong and not successful. The Russian army will push back the Ukrainian Armed Forces, but will not go on the offensive much, because the main battles are taking place in the Donbass. 20% chance."

Russian journalist Valentin Bogdanov also notes in his blog that the Russian army, after the defeat of the Antonovsky Bridge by the Ukrainian Armed Forces, can launch similar attacks on bridges controlled by Ukraine.

“Since February 24, 2022, Russia has not destroyed a single bridge across the Dnieper. I wonder if when giving the order to attack the Antonovsky Bridge in Kherson, they understood in Kyiv that this game could be played together? For example, in Kyiv alone there are seven bridges across the Dnieper,” the journalist notes.

“The answer from us can be anything. Both theoretically and practically we can destroy any crossing. For example, the Metro Bridge, the Paton Bridge in Kyiv, if the appropriate command is given,” adds Sergei Gorbachev.

At the same time, residents of Kherson thank the Russian military for their protection - corresponding leaflets have been posted in the city, writes local journalist Gennady Kabachenko.

“Not only leaflets with threats addressed to the residents of Kherson from the so-called “partisans” can be seen in the city. There are adequate Kherson residents who today posted thank-you leaflets to the military personnel guarding our sky over the city,” Kabachenko reports.