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According to the British Department of Defense, fierce fighting in the southern region of Kherson is intensifying as Ukrainian troops become increasingly dependent on the U.S. rocket system to fight Russian troops over important bridges. ing.
The Antonovsky Bridge, which crosses the Dniepuru River, serves as a major strategic goal of Ukraine’s defense as it connects the Russian troops in Kherson with the occupied territories off the Crimean Peninsula.
The Ukrainian army has relied heavily on the High Mobility Artillery Rocket System (HIMARS), which can effectively deploy multiple rocket launchers provided by the United States. The system damaged the bridge earlier this week.
“If the crossroads of the Dniepuru River were rejected and the Russian troops in the occupied Kherson were cut off, it would be a serious military and political setback for Russia,” the British ministry said.
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However, British defense officials on Saturday said they believed that as of Friday, Russia had repaired an important bridge and “some traffic” could pass through.
“There have been fierce battles in the last 48 hours as Ukrainian troops continue to attack Russian troops in Kherson Oblast, west of the Dniep River,” the ministry said in a statement. “Russian military supply lines west of the Dniepuru River are increasingly at risk.”
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The Pentagon said it had heard claims from Ukrainian authorities that Russian troops may be trying to build a “pontoon bridge” on the Dniepru River to avoid damage to major roads, but intelligence officials said they He said he could not verify his claim.
“Russian troops have prioritized maintaining their military bridging capabilities, but attempts to build an intersection on the Dniepuru River would be a very risky operation,” the ministry said.
The US-provided HIMARS has proven to be effective at the forefront of Ukraine, as it can launch rockets up to 50 miles. Some of those rockets attacked some Russian arsenals, Ukrainian defense officials confirmed for Fox News Digital.
Russia claimed on Thursday that it was capable of countering US HIMARS and shot down 12 missiles over the Antonifka Bridge.
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“Don’t be afraid [of HIMARS], You should fight it. It’s not a panacea, it’s one of the weapons the enemy is currently using, “Andrey Cartaporov, head of the Russian House Defense Commission, told the Russian media.
“The system is serious, but there are countermeasures — our air defense facility.”