
Ukraine ‘targets critical bridge’ built by Putin as counteroffensive ‘breaks through on southern front’
Russia claims Ukraine has targeted a critical bridge that links the country to annexed Crimea, as Kyiv says its counteroffensive has broken through on the southern front. Russia’s defence ministry said its forces had destroyed three Ukrainian drones attempting to attack the Kerch bridge – forcing closure for the third time in a year – with one drone intercepted late on Friday and two others early on Saturday. Serving as a key supply route for Kremlin forces during its war in Ukraine, the bridge has been attacked repeatedly, Russian authorities claim. In October, an explosion involving a truck bomb purportedly killed three people, with a subsequent attack in July killing a couple and seriously injuring their daughter. A part of the road was further left hanging in a precarious position. Meanwhile, a civilian was killed and two were wounded during shelling in the Belgorod region in Russia, which borders Ukraine, Governor Vyacheslav Gladkov said. Two Ukrainian drones attacked the region’s Valuysky district, damaging a home and a car as another was intercepted in the Grayvoronsky district. Another four people were wounded following attacks on the eastern city of Donetsk, Moscow-installed mayor Aleksei Kulemzin alleged. It comes as UK military officials now believe that Russia risks having to split its forces in an attempt to prevent a Ukrainian breakthrough in the south of the country. Ukraine’s deputy defence minister Hanna Maliar said Ukrainian troops were progressing in the Zaporizhzhia region, with forces taking offensive action on the Orikhiv axis in southern Ukraine. The White House confirmed Ms Maliar’s statements as it noted “notable success” in the Zaporizhzhia area, though she warned that Ukrainian troops had pushed through to heavily fortified lines of Russian defence following the breakthrough. Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky said the country’s troops were “moving forward” as part of their long-anticipated counteroffensive, appearing to rebuff Western officials who have suggested that Ukraine has been too slow to recapture ground from Moscow. Ukraine’s military forces further reported a total of 45 combat clashes on front lines in the 24 hours between Friday and Saturday evening. The counteroffensive has successfully reclaimed more than a dozen villages. However, Ukrainian soldiers have been impeded by extensive Russian minefields and defensive lines, the gains do not encompass any major settlement. Moscow has labelled the Ukrainian counteroffensive a failure, with Kyiv asserting that it has purposefully advanced slowly to minimise losses on the battlefield. "Ukrainian forces are moving forward. Despite everything, and no matter what anyone says, we are advancing, and that is the most important thing. We are on the move," Zelensky wrote on the Telegram messaging app. Ukrainian military confirmed further advances towards Melitopol, a major Russian-occupied urban centre inthe Zaporizhzhia region. Elsewhere, Mykhailo Podolyak, an adviser to President Zelensky, warned that drone strikes on Russian soil were only set to increase, adding that Ukraine has ramped up attacks on Russian-occupied areas. Mr Podolyak noted that Ukraine would also escalate attacks in Russia itself. However, Kyiv does not generally directly claim attacks outside of Ukraine, with Mr Podolyak saying such strikes would be carried out by “agents” or “partisans”. “As for Russia ... there is an increasing number of attacks by unidentified drones launched from the territory of the Russian Federation, and the number of these attacks will increase,” Mr Podolyak told Reuters news agency. “This is the stage of the war when hostilities are gradually being transferred to the territory of the Russian Federation.” Read More More cargo ships from Ukraine use a civilian corridor despite Russian threats Dodging a constant assault of Russian missiles – the war-weary keep fighting in Ukraine’s blood-soaked east Drone attacks inside Putin’s Russia will only increase, says senior Ukraine official Russia declares Nobel-winning editor Dmitry Muratov to be a foreign agent Ukraine-Russia war – live: Putin’s defences fail as Kyiv counteroffensive ‘breaks through on southern front’ The Body in the Woods | An Independent TV Original Documentary The harrowing discovery at centre of The Independent’s new documentary
2023-09-03 02:28

Bill Richardson, globe-trotting US diplomat, dead at 75
Bill Richardson, a veteran Democratic politician and former US ambassador to the United Nations who later spent decades negotiating the release of Americans detained around the world, has died at...
2023-09-03 01:59

Make-up artist explains thinking behind Bradley Cooper nose
By Crispian Balmer and Mike Davidson VENICE The make-up artist for Bradley Cooper's Leonard Bernstein biopic "Maestro" apologised
2023-09-03 01:50

Celine Dion's sister calls her a 'strong woman' amid the singer's struggle with Stiff Person Syndrome
Celine Dion's sister has shared an update while the "Heart Will Go On" singer deals with a rare health issue.
2023-09-03 01:49

'Maestro' magic and Polanski polemic in Venice
Bradley Cooper transforms into legendary conductor and composer Leonard Bernstein in "Maestro", which got its world premiere in Venice Saturday ahead of the controversial screening of Roman...
2023-09-03 01:47

Less Spending Not Necessarily Way to Cut Deficit, Ramaphosa Says
South African President Cyril Ramaphosa said lower spending is “not necessarily” the answer to the country’s fiscal challenges,
2023-09-03 01:28

Law enforcement seeks help to identify barns in BTK serial killer cold case investigations
A law enforcement team in northeast Oklahoma believes the prolific serial killer known as "BTK" may be responsible for several additional unsolved missing person and homicide cases. Now they're hoping the public can help them identify barns and silos in Oklahoma, Kansas and Missouri that the self-proclaimed BTK killer Dennis Rader sketched in never-before-seen detailed drawings.
2023-09-03 01:28

Gabon coup will not end rule by Bongo clan - presidential source
A source close to the deposed president says those celebrating the coup should not expect much change.
2023-09-03 01:21

Bill Richardson, a former governor and UN ambassador who worked to free detained Americans, dies
Bill Richardson, a two-term Democratic governor of New Mexico and a U.S. ambassador to the United Nations who dedicated his post-political career to working to free Americans detained overseas, has died
2023-09-03 01:19

Bill Richardson, U.S. diplomat and troubleshooter, dead at 75
By Will Dunham WASHINGTON Bill Richardson, a former U.S. diplomat, congressman, energy secretary and New Mexico governor who
2023-09-03 01:15

Preece ready to get back in the car at Darlington after frightening crash at Daytona
Ryan Preece said he's ready to get back in the car at Darlington a week after his horrifying crash at Daytona
2023-09-03 00:59

Former New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson dies at 75
Former New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson, a longtime fixture of Democratic politics with turns as Energy Secretary and United Nations ambassador under the Clinton administration, died on Friday, the Richardson Center for Global Engagement said in a statement. He was 75.
2023-09-03 00:57