ynne M. Tracy, not Lynn M. Tracy, and the journalist’s mother is Ella Milman, not Ella Milman-Gershkovich.

Crimea is increasingly the target of strikes

Bridge connecting Ukraine to Crimea targeted in attack

A bridge connecting the rest of Ukraine to the occupied Crimea peninsula was struck in an overnight attack, according to Sergei Aksyonov, the Kremlin-installed leader of Crimea. The Chonhar bridge, which connects the peninsula to the Kherson region of southern Ukraine, was damaged in the attack. While Aksyonov did not assign blame for the strike, the Russian-backed governor of occupied Kherson, Vladimir Saldo, directly blamed Ukraine. He accused the “criminal Kyiv regime” of hitting the bridge with Storm Shadow long-range missiles donated by Britain. The attack on the bridge comes as Crimea has increasingly become a target of strikes, although Ukraine typically does not explicitly claim responsibility for these attacks.

Kremlin officials exude confidence, even with Ukraine’s main counteroffensive push yet to come

Russian defense minister claims army can fend off Ukrainian counteroffensive

Russia’s defense minister, Sergei K. Shoigu, claimed that the country’s army had successfully thwarted the initial wave of the Ukrainian counteroffensive. ShoCrimea is increasingly becoming the target of strikes, with the latest attack targeting a bridge connecting the peninsula to the Kherson region of southern Ukraine. The bridge, known as the Chonhar bridge, is vital to Moscow’s war effort in the region. While the leader of Crimea, Sergei Aksyonov, stated that there were no casualties from the attack, the Russian-backed governor of occupied Kherson, Vladimir Saldo, directly blamed Ukraine for the strike. He accused the “criminal Kyiv regime” of hitting the bridge with Storm Shadow long-range missiles donated by Britain. The attack on the bridge comes just days after a strike on a Russian ammunition depot in the Kherson region, indicating a broader Ukrainian strategy aimed at hindering the resupply of Russian forces in southern Ukraine.

Meanwhile, Russian officials exude confidence in their ability to fend off Ukraine’s main counteroffensive push. Russia’s defense minister, Sergei K. Shoigu, claimed that the Russian Army had successfully thwarted the initial wave of the Ukrainian counteroffensive. However, President Vladimir V. Putin tempered the optimistic assessments, stating that the enemy’s offensive potential has not been depleted and that strategic reserves have not been used. Despite the differing views, Russia continues to project confidence in its ability to withstand further Ukrainian attacks.

In other news, a donors’ conference in London concluded with pledges of nearly $66 billion for Ukraine’s recovery. Western allies raised the funds over a two-day conference hosted by the British government. The United States announced $1.3 billion in new economic aid, while Britain pledged $305 million in direct economic assistance and $3 billion in World Bank loan guarantees. However, the total falls short of the estimated $411 billion needed to rebuild Ukraine, with $14 billion needed this year alone for infrastructure rebuilding. Leaders at the conference also discussed using confiscated Russian assets to help pay for reconstruction costs.

Lastly, a Moscow court upheld the detention of Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich, who has been jailed and charged with espionage in Russia for the past 12 weeks

How has the annexation of Crimea by Russia in 2014 impacted the ongoing conflict between Ukraine and Russia in the region

Casualties or major damage caused by the attack, the Russian-backed governor of occupied Kherson, Vladimir Saldo, directly blamed Ukraine for the strike. He accused the “criminal Kyiv regime” of using Storm Shadow long-range missiles donated by Britain to target the bridge.

This attack on the Chonhar bridge is just one example of the increasing strikes targeting Crimea. However, Ukraine usually refrains from explicitly claiming responsibility for these attacks. Crimea has become a focal point of the conflict between Ukraine and Russia since the annexation of the peninsula by Russia in 2014.

Despite Ukraine’s main counteroffensive push yet to come, Kremlin officials, including Russian Defense Minister Sergei K. Shoigu, exude confidence in their ability to fend off any Ukrainian advances. Shoigu claims that the Russian army has successfully thwarted the initial wave of the Ukrainian counteroffensive.

The situation in Crimea remains tense, with both sides engaged in a constant war of words and occasional military actions. The international community continues to closely monitor the situation in the region.