Ukrainian troops may soon establish control over strategic highway near Crimea – South Forces Group spox

To start unblocking roads to Crimea, Ukrainian forces may establish control over the strategic highway through Armyansk, used by Russian troops to transfer their military equipment to the frontline.

The peninsula is a large concentration of Russian equipment and manpower to lead the war. From time to time, they manage to pull up these resources to prolong the defense of the captured left bank. However, this work of replenishing resources is extremely difficult for them, says Nataliia Humeniuk, the joint forces spokesperson.

"Because in fact, the only route that allows them to fully replenish resources is M17 through Armyansk, because all the others contain bridges and are not fully functional. And M17, the enemy feels that very soon it may be under very strong fire control of Ukrainian forces. Even now they do not feel at ease there," said Humeniuk.

She also noted that Russian troops use this direction for humanitarian supplies to the peninsula, as the flow of civilian transport is concentrated there.

Answering a question about the situation in Kerch and on the Kerch Bridge, Humeniuk said that combat operations are ongoing, which cannot be disclosed in full.

Russian troops couldn't restore the Kerch bridge, which was illegal to its state at the beginning of its existence.

The bridge's railroad tracks are occasionally used for military purposes, but transportation is limited as the bridge is technically unable to withstand heavy loads.

The day before, commenting on the situation on the left bank of the Kherson region, Humeniuk said that Russian forces in southern Ukraine have begun to resort to more active assaults on foot to protect their equipment.

"The situation is complicated and the enemy is putting pressure, trying to use assault actions to drive our units out of their positions, but so far they have suffered significant losses and are returning to their original positions from where they came. But still, we need to realize that there are a lot of them there, represented by several tens of thousands of personnel and hundreds of pieces of equipment. This means that the fight is very fierce and difficult, and the expansion of the bridgehead is not an easy element of activity, but a painstaking work, very abundantly watered with blood," said Humeniuk.

Humeniuk also noted that Russian forces are trying to maneuver with the forces and resources they have on the left bank, and there is no sign of enemy strike or assault groups.

The foe is trying to maximize the use of tactical aircraft in the south by dropping guided bombs.