At least one bridge connecting the Kherson region to the Russian-annexed Crimean peninsula in Chagar was damaged by a Ukrainian missile strike, Russian-appointed local officials said.

“At night, there was a blow to the Chagar bridge. There are no casualties,” the Russian governor of annexed Crimea, Sergei Aksyonov, said, adding that damage assessments were underway and calling on citizens to remain calm.

The bridge connects Crimea, the peninsula annexed by Moscow in 2014, with the part of the Ukrainian Kherson region held by Russian troops.

The blow is announced by the Russian authorities as the Ukrainian armed forces have been conducting offensive operations in various sectors of the front since the beginning of the month, especially in southern Ukraine.

Crimea plays a key role in supplying Russian forces deployed in southern Ukraine.

Although Mr Aksyonov referred to only one bridge being hit, a pro-Russian official in Kherson spoke of damaged infrastructure, but did not elaborate.

Kiev forces “bombed political infrastructure: the bridges on the administrative border between the Kherson region and Crimea near Chagar,” Vladimir Salda, appointed by Moscow to head the local authorities in the Kherson region he has, said via Telegram take over the Russian army.

He uploaded photos showing a crater in the road and added that according to “initial estimates”, it is possible that Kiev forces used Storm Shadow missiles, supplied to the Ukrainian army by Britain.

It is impossible to independently verify this information.

Crimea is a frequent target of Ukrainian attacks, especially with UAVs.

In October 2022, a powerful explosion had severely damaged the bridge that directly connects the annexed Crimean peninsula with Russia, in the Kerch Strait.

Crimean governor Aksyonov said experts are examining the bridge to determine when it can be reopened to traffic.

The bridge at Chagar, known as the “Gate of Crimea”, is one of the few connecting southern Ukraine with Crimea.

On the other hand, Ukrainian officials spoke of Russian raids, especially in Odessa with UAVs, where a warehouse was destroyed, and with missiles in Krevi Ri.