GENICHESK, July 16. /TASS/. Russian forces have taken control of the most important spot near the Antonovsky Bridge in the Kherson Region, Kherson Region Interim Governor Vladimir Saldo told TASS on Sunday.
"The remainder of Ukrainian militants has been blocked at the country houses near the Antonovsky Bridge downstream of the Dnieper and pushed in between the river and marshland. The territory where the bridge connects with the land has been mopped up of them. That’s the most tactically important spot, as it’s the only place from where an offensive could advance inland. It’s under full control of our troops," he said.
He said the Russian military used the heaviest systems at their disposal, including the Iskander missile system and the Solntsepyok heavy flamethrower system to destroy Ukrainian forces in the battles near the Antonovsky Bridge. "It is hard to estimate the precise losses of the enemy, as many of them drowned [when crossing the river] in boats and some could be exfiltrated, but even more bodies were abandoned in the country house areas and under the bridge," Saldo said.
Ukraine could have lost at least 100 soldiers killed and more than 100 wounded during battles near the Antonovsky Bridge in the Kherson Region, Saldo also said.
"Tentatively, the enemy lost at least a hundred militants killed and more than a hundred wounded at the spot right near the bridge and at the country houses. Add to that the ones who were eliminated on the right bank and those who drowned while crossing the river," he said.
Russian fighters have severely impaired the combat potential of Ukrainian forces, the official said. "The best and most trained personnel was destroyed. Our fighters have severely impaired the combat potential of the enemy as a result of the clashes for the bridge," Saldo said.