ROSTOV-ON-DON. June 29 (Interfax) - The Russian Armed Forces have destroyed a boat used by Ukrainian forces in an attempt to evacuate from under the Antonovka bridge in the Kherson region to the right bank of the Dnieper, the region's acting governor Vladimir Saldo said.
"Over the past two days, artillerymen from the Dnieper group of forces sank six boats in which more than 30 Ukrainian troops tried to reach the bridge supports on the left bank and to disembark there. A boat in which militants tried to evacuate from under the bridge to the right bank was destroyed last night," Saldo said on his Telegram channel on Thursday.
In addition, a Ukrainian unit preparing to cross the river and three artillery positions shelling the left bank of the Dnieper were eliminated on the right bank, he said. Two Furia drones adjusting the enemy gunfire were shot down.
The Ukrainian Armed Forces have therefore failed to establish a foothold near the bridge on the Dnieper's left bank and do not have the potential to launch an offensive, Saldo said.
Saldo earlier reported unsuccessful attempts by the Ukrainian army to cross the Dnieper in the vicinity of the Antonovka bridge and to take cover under its remaining sections.
The 1.4 km long and 25 meters wide Antonovka bridge used to connect the city of Kherson with the left bank of the Dnieper. It was destroyed during hostilities.