Chonhar Bridge hit in strikes, satellite images show damage

Newly released satellite images show the aftermath of strikes on the Chonhar Bridge and a nearby pontoon crossing constructed by the Russian-installed authorities.

The images were published by Schemes, the investigative project of Radio Svoboda, which obtained the satellite photographs.

The aftermath of Ukrainian strikes on the Chonhar Bridge

Satellite imagery from Planet Labs shows the aftermath of an attack carried out overnight on June 7 against the Chonhar Bridge, a key link between mainland Ukraine and Russian-occupied Crimea. Dark scorch marks can be seen in the central section of the bridge, indicating the locations of the impacts.

The images also show that Russian forces had built a pontoon crossing alongside the bridge, apparently anticipating further Ukrainian strikes.

The Chonhar crossing is considered strategically important for the Russian military, serving as one of the main supply routes for Russian troops operating in southern Ukraine. The transport hub includes a railway bridge and a dam on the Novooleksiivka-Dzhankoi route, as well as a road bridge and an older road bridge that is no longer in use.

According to an analysis by Schemes, the pontoon crossing first appeared near the Chonhar Bridge in June 2023. Later satellite images showed it concealed beneath the structure.

The bridge came under another drone attack on June 9, 2026, but satellite imagery of the latest strike has not yet been released.