Vladimir Putin’s army has been left scrambling for supplies following Ukraine’s strike on the Kerch Bridge, British defence chiefs have said.
Russian forces are attempting to repair the 12-mile crossing over the Kerch Strait after it was hit on October 8.
Intelligence suggests that Russia’s logistical issues have been more “acute” since the strike.
A “large queue of waiting cargo trucks” remains backed up near the crossing despite desperate ongoing repair work, the Ministry of Defence (MoD) said on Monday.
“Logistical issues faced by Russian forces in southern Ukraine have likely become more acute following damage to the Kerch Bridge. Repair efforts are ongoing, and it is open to some traffic.
“However, a large queue of waiting cargo trucks remains backed up near the crossing.
“Russian forces operating in southern Ukraine are likely increasing logistical supply flow via Mariupol in an attempt to compensate for the reduced capacity of the Kerch Bridge.
“With the Russian presence in Kherson strained, and the supply routes through Crimea degraded, the ground line of communication through Zaporizhzhia Oblast is becoming more important to the sustainability of Russia’s occupation.
“The city of Melitopol is a junction of supply routes and hosts a major Russian aviation presence.”
The £2.7billion bridge was opened four years after Crimea was illegally axed by Moscow.
Russian officials had previously claimed it was well protected from air, land or water threats.
City mayor Vitali Klitschko said the central Shevchenko district of the capital had been hit, and urged residents to take shelter.
The attacks on the Ukrainian capital were from “kamikaze drones”, Andriy Yermak, head of President Volodymyr Zelensky’s office, said.
