Key railway bridge outside Melitopol destroyed, says exiled mayor

Image released by the People's Militia of the Luhansk People's Republic on July 3, 2022 shows their forces put Soviet and Russia national flags on government building as they capture Lysychansk, eastern city of Ukraine in Luhansk. Russia defense chief claims captural of one of the last Ukrainian strongholds in Luhansk oblast on Sunday. Russias defense minister Sergei Shoigu said Russian forces took control Sunday July 3, 2022 of the last major Ukrainian-held city Lysychansk in Ukraines Luhansk province, bringing Moscow closer to its stated goal of seizing all of Ukraines Donbas region. Sergei Shoigu told President Vladimir Putin that Russias troops together with members of a local separatist militia have established full control over the city of Lysychansk, Russian news agencies reported. Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskiy video address on Sunday July 3, 2022 acknowledged that Ukrainian forces had withdrawn from Lysychansk in Donbas, but vowed to restore control over the area thanks to the army's tactics.

A key railway bridge connecting Russian-occupied Melitopol and Tokmak was blown up at the weekend, the southern city’s exiled mayor Ivan Fedorov said in a video address Monday.

Speaking live on Ukrainian Rada TV, Fedorov said railway traffic from Melitopol to Berdiansk was “completely paralyzed” on Sunday. Local media reports confirm the bridge was destroyed, but it is not clear who is responsible.

An explosion blasted the Russian-occupied village of Lyubimivka, Ukrainian news outlet Ria-Melitopol reported on Telegram, adding Russian troops have been using the bridge to transport military equipment. Ria-Melitopol also reported large amounts of Russian military equipment has been seen moving through Melitopol, including tank and armoured vehicle convoys, towards Kherson and Zaporizhzhia.

Ukrainian forces destroyed Melitopol airfield early Sunday, according to Fedorov. He added that a fire at the Russian base located there continues on Monday.

Russian troops have occupied Melitopol since early March, using the city for ongoing assaults on Ukraine’s southern territories.