Anatomy of a Fiasco: The Bridge at Glushkovo
Late last week the Ukrainian command, seeing their offensive in Sudzha-Koronevo bog down, tried to expand the flanks of their salient into Russian territory in Kursk. Part of this was an attack on the Glushkovo district to the west.
Late last week the Ukrainian command, seeing their offensive in Sudzha-Koronevo bog down, tried to expand the flanks of their salient into Russian territory in Kursk. Part of this was an attack on the Glushkovo district to the west.
The Glushkovo District is somewhat isolated from the Russian interior by the Seim River.
Having learned the wrong lessons from their 2022 counteroffensive in Kherson, the AFU command decided to try to induce a wholesale Russian withdrawal by attacking the bridges over the Seim.
Having learned the wrong lessons from their 2022 counteroffensive in Kherson, the AFU command decided to try to induce a wholesale Russian withdrawal by attacking the bridges over the Seim.
The large road bridge at Glushkovo, the district center, would be their first target. As in Kherson two years ago, HIMARS fired on the bridge with GMLRS. As in Kherson two years ago, it was ineffective.
Unlike in Kherson two years ago, the Russians killed the HIMARS launcher.
Unlike in Kherson two years ago, the Russians killed the HIMARS launcher.
That was Thursday afternoon. Undeterred, the Ukrainians pulled up two more HIMARS launchers and fired on the bridge again on Thursday night, potholing the span further and probably rendering it temporarily unusable.
The Russians killed those launchers too.
The Russians killed those launchers too.
Still determined to down the bridge, the Ukrainians ordered up an airstrike. One of their MiG-29s hit the bridge with glide bombs, finally dropping the damaged span into the river.
The Russians tracked its return flight and killed it while it was refueling in Dnipropetrovsk.
The Russians tracked its return flight and killed it while it was refueling in Dnipropetrovsk.
But with the bridge down (and another one of the three damaged), presumably the Ukrainians were good to go - the Russian troops in the district were now isolated.
Right?
Well, no, because - plot twist - the district isn't actually isolated. There's no large river to the east.
Right?
Well, no, because - plot twist - the district isn't actually isolated. There's no large river to the east.
Of course the Ukrainians had a plan to deal with this. They aren't stupid. They ordered an attack into the area to seal off the open flank and trap the defenders against the river.
That attack resulted in the largest mass surrender of Ukrainian troops seen in Kursk to date.
That attack resulted in the largest mass surrender of Ukrainian troops seen in Kursk to date.
As for the bridge, the Russians had a pontoon crossing up within hours to replace it. One which the AFU seems to have decided against trying to attack for now.
And for the moment, the Glushkovo District remains firmly in Russian hands.
Thanks @Malazan_enjoyer for the image.
And for the moment, the Glushkovo District remains firmly in Russian hands.
Thanks @Malazan_enjoyer for the image.
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