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[Global Times special correspondents in Russia and Germany Wei Jialin Aoki Global Times special correspondent Liu Yupeng] Last week, two strategically important bridges in Kursk Oblast, Russia were attacked by Ukrainian troops. According to the Russian side, the Ukrainian army used the U.S.Himas"Multi-tubeRocket LauncherThe attack was also the first time that Kursk was attacked by Western-made rocket weapons. Previously, the United States publicly opposed Ukraine's use of American-made long-range weapons to attack the Russian mainland, fearing that the situation would escalate. French media said that whether the attack on the bridge means that Washington has relaxed relevant restrictions remains to be seen. While stating that the Ukrainian army's actions in Kursk "are proceeding exactly as we expected", Ukrainian President Zelensky continued to call on the West to allow the Ukrainian army to use its supported weapons to carry out long-range strikes against Russia. On the 16th, Russian State Duma member Mikhail Sheremet warned that "the presence of Western military equipment in the attack" means that "the world is on the brink of World War III." Western media found that as the Ukrainian army advanced into Russian territory, the Russian army was also making progress in eastern Ukraine.

On the 16th, the Ukrainian army attacked a strategically important bridge in Kursk Oblast, Russia. (Visual China)

The HIMARS rocket launcher that the United States provided to Ukraine?

According to Interfax, on the 16th local time, the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs said that the Ukrainian army used Western weapons to blow up a bridge over the Seym River in the Glushkovsky District of Kursk Oblast. Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Zakharova posted on social media that day: "The Kursk region was attacked for the first time by Western-made rocket launchers, most likely the US HIMARS rocket launcher. The bridge was completely destroyed and some volunteers who assisted in the evacuation of civilians were killed. All those responsible for these inhumane acts will be severely punished."

The British newspaper The Independent said that the bridge was one of the important channels for the Russian army to implement logistics and ammunition supply in the Russian-Ukrainian conflict. British Sky TV said that the bridge connects the area of ​​Kursk still controlled by Russia and the area where Ukraine has made progress. France International Radio quoted analysts as saying that the destruction of the bridge shows that Ukraine is trying to carry out continuous fighting in western Russia. By disrupting Moscow's logistical supply, Ukraine can prepare for a long-term operation aimed at strengthening and possibly expanding its position in the region.

According to the Russian newspaper "Moscow Komsomolets" on the 18th, the Ukrainian army attacked a bridge over the Seym River again, using a "HIMARS" rocket launcher. Photos released by Russian military journalists showed that a huge hole appeared on the bridge after the attack. The report said that the bridge was an alternative route for evacuating local residents, leaving only one bridge in the Glushkovsky district.

According to AFP, Ukrainian Air Force Commander Oleksyukh posted a video on social media on the 18th showing the Ukrainian army destroying a bridge in the Kursk region, saying that "another bridge is missing in the Kursk direction." The report said that the Ukrainian army's move was an attempt to disrupt the Russian army's combat operations and supply lines.

Russia's Avia.pro website analyzed that although the bridge was not completely destroyed, the possibility of using it for transportation has actually dropped to zero. The Ukrainian army is taking targeted actions to completely cut off the possibility of transporting heavy equipment in the area. This step may make it more difficult for Russian troops to resupply and residents to evacuate. At the same time, the remaining bridge in the area is particularly worrying and is likely to become the next target of Ukraine's attack in the next few hours.

UK defence minister says 'proud' Ukraine uses British weapons

According to France International Radio, the Ukrainian army used HIMARS rocket launchers to blow up the Russian bridge. Observers are still waiting for further developments in the situation as to whether Washington has relaxed restrictions on the Ukrainian army's use of US-made weapons.

Zelensky has previously sought permission from the West to use the U.S. Army's tactical missile system (ATACMS) and the UK's "Storm Shadow" missiles to strike targets in Russia, but were rejected each time. According to Reuters on the 17th, Zelensky once again called on Western allies in his speech that day to allow the Ukrainian army to use its supported weapons to carry out long-range strikes against Russia, "The long-range strike capability of our army is the answer to all the most important and strategic issues in this war."

In an interview with the country's Sunday Express, British Defense Secretary John Healey claimed that Britain "should be proud of Ukraine's use of British weapons" - including in Russia. He said that under the UN Charter, Ukraine has a clear right to self-defense, "as long as it abides by international law, and does not rule out actions in Russia." According to the British "Times", in the coming weeks, Healey will attend a new meeting of the Ukrainian Defense Coordination Group, where he will urge European allies to provide Ukraine with more equipment and give Kiev more freedom to use these equipment in Russia.

Sky News said that Britain is one of the main military aid countries for Ukraine, and the weapons it provides include tanks, air defense systems and long-range precision strike missiles. The Times said that although Britain allows the Ukrainian army to use tanks and other weapons on Russian territory, restrictions on missiles still exist.

The US government appears to be blocking Britain from allowing Kiev to use Storm Shadow missiles in Russia, according to reports. A British government source said Britain has been waiting for US approval for more than a month. The report said that although Britain wants to allow Ukraine to use long-range weapons freely, this requires the approval of a third undisclosed country, including the United States, France and Russia.NATOcountries including the consent of allies.

Russian troops approach Ukrainian transportation hub

Agence France-Presse said that while the Ukrainian offensive against Russia "boosted" the morale of Kiev, it seemed to have little impact on the larger-scale fighting in eastern Ukraine. Zelensky said on the 17th that the Russian army launched "dozens of attacks" on Ukrainian positions near the towns of Pokrovsk and Toretsk.

According to Reuters, Ukraine said they thwarted Russia's missile attack on Kiev in the early hours of the 18th. "This is the third time in August that Russia has launched a missile attack on Kiev.Ballistic Missiles"There were six days between each attack," the Kyiv Military Administration said on social media. Ukrainian Air Force Commander Oleksandr Oleksuk said the Ukrainian army destroyed eight Russian attack drones and five of the eight missiles launched overnight. Kyiv Oblast Governor Ruslan Kravchenko said in a statement that two private homes were destroyed and another 16 were damaged by falling debris.

According to AFP, the Russian military said on the 18th that its troops had occupied another village, about 15 kilometers from the eastern Ukrainian hub city of Pokrovsk. Pokrovsk has long been a target of the Russian army and is located on a main road that is the only way for the Ukrainian army and towns on the eastern front to obtain supplies.

"Ukraine's attack on Kursk Oblast could create discord among Kiev's allies," Bloomberg News quoted sources as saying that some NATO allies "expressed concerns." The West believes that Ukraine chose a "bad time" to launch the attack. In addition, many people are still unclear about the purpose of Ukraine's move. According to AFP, a source in the German parliament revealed that Germany, as Ukraine's second largest aid donor, plans to reduce its military aid to Kiev by half in 2025.