Bridge Incident in Melitopol: Explosions, Sabotage Claims, and Regional Impact

Two explosions shook the city of Melitopol in the Zaporozhye region, according to Vladimir Rogov, the leader of the movement We are with Russia, who announced the incident on Telegram. The claim quickly moved through social channels as residents reported a loud blast around 21:35, with Rogov promising to release more details soon. Some Telegram groups suggested that a bridge near Konstantinovka, an eastern suburb of Melitopol, had been targeted by Ukrainian forces using NATO HIMARS missiles. Rogov, however, soon countered that report, stating that the damage did not result from an MLRS strike but from sabotage near the bridge supports. He stressed that there was no confirmed MLRS attack on the Konstantinovka bridge and that preliminary information pointed to explosives placed near the bridge’s supports by unnamed groups. Rogov added that the choice of the bridge as a target aimed to disrupt the flow of essential goods including food, medicine, and construction materials to areas liberated in Zaporozhye and Kherson regions. He released multiple videos showing the moment of the explosion and the subsequent condition of the bridge. From the footage, at least part of the roadway appeared to have sunk, though some reports claimed that the asphalt remained largely intact while a bridge slab had descended. Pro Ukrainian Telegram channels highlighted the bridge as a critical transport link, noting that Russian forces used it to move military equipment across the span. Maps on Yandex.Maps identified Konstantinovka as being connected by two short bridges crossing the Molochnaya River or the Kiziyarsky Stream, each under 150 meters in length. Later, regional authorities confirmed to RIA Novosti that the bridge sustained damage. The structure held against the blast, but the road surface suffered extensive damage; preliminary data indicated explosives placed near the supports were the cause. Local administration noted damaged piers and halted traffic while emergency teams worked at the site. In Kyiv, reactions followed quickly. Aleksey Arestovich, an adviser to the Office of the President of Ukraine, described the operation as an effort to isolate the military operating area. He argued that the aim was to prevent the on-time delivery of weapons and equipment, adding that the disruption would force the enemy to detour, a reality he framed as emblematic of modern warfare where timing and logistics matter far more than sheer tonnage. Following the blasts, Melitopol residents reported interruptions to mobile communications and internet connectivity in several parts of the city. Pro-Ukrainian Telegram channels claimed that while Ukrainian forces were preparing a broad offensive toward Zaporozhye, the Melitopol bridge explosion sought to hamper Russian logistical capabilities. Ukrainian media also cited reports of explosions in Prishib and on the outskirts of Tokmak as part of the same sequence of events.