As reported by Russian sources, Ukrainian forces have cut off a crucial path of supply for the enemy.
The Chonhar Bridge, which connects mainland Ukraine to the peninsula Moscow captured in 2014 and is regarded as the “gate to Crimea,” has a big hole in it.
The area of the mainland to the north of the bridge, which is the 120 km or so short cut from Crimea to the southern frontline, is still in Russian control.
Vladimir Saldo, the Russian-installed governor of occupied Kherson, claimed the strike was ‘ordered by London’ using at least one Storm Shadow missile – but insisted the damage would be repaired quickly.
But Russian military vehicles are being forced to take a longer alternative route in the meantime, he admitted.
The delay could help Ukraine’s counter-offensive, which began earlier this month in the southern region of Zaporizhzhia.
One of its targets is thought to be Melitopol, a major city where the occupiers rely on supplies sent from Crimea.
Mr Saldo said on Telegram: ‘According to a preliminary assessment, British Storm Shadow missiles were used.
’The road surface on the bridges was damaged. There are no human casualties.
‘The Kyiv terrorists want to intimidate Kherson residents and sow panic among the population, but they will not succeed. We know how to repair bridges quickly: vehicle passage will be restored in the very near future.
‘We have an answer to every move by the enemy. A link between the Kherson region and Crimea continues to operate – a reserve route has been temporarily organised for vehicular traffic.
‘There will soon be a very serious answer. It solves nothing for the results of the special operation… Just to do harm’.
Ukrainian officials have yet to comment on the incident.
It’s not the first time Russia has admitted to suffering losses inflicted by Storm Shadow missiles, which Britain began supplying to Kyiv in May.
Yevgeniy Balitsky, Moscow’s puppet ruler in Zaporizhzhia, said last week: ‘They certainly give us trouble with their missiles, especially Storm Shadow.’
A top Russian general is believed to have been killed by one of the weapons at the frontline days earlier.
Mr Balitsky continued: ‘We have somehow learned how to shoot down [US-supplied] HIMARS. But the [British-supplied] Shadow ones are even harder. They arrive, and have a bigger radius.
‘So it’s a problem for us. In fact, our air defence is having a hard time with [Storm Shadow].
‘It shoots them down, but there is only a 50% chance of the missiles being shot down.’