Bridge Linking Occupied Donetsk With Mariupol Collapses After Ukrainian Attack

July 1, 2026 An image said to show the partially collapsed bridge over the Malyi Kalchyk River in the Donetsk region. @exilenova_plus / Telegram A highway bridge connecting the cities of Donetsk and Mariupol has partially collapsed following Ukrainian strikes, Kremlin-backed authorities in the partially occupied Donetsk region said Wednesday. The strike targeted a bridge crossing the Malyi Kalchyk River near the village of Hranitne, Konstantin Zinchenko, head of the local district, told the state-run news agency TASS. Zinchenko said authorities plan to establish a detour route for drivers. Photos of the collapsed bridge span were shared online by Ukrainian war monitoring channels and Russian military bloggers. Earlier, Ukraine’s military reported striking multiple logistical points, including the bridge near Hranitne. It said it also struck a railway bridge over the Tepla River in the Luhansk region, as well as a crossing near the borders of the Dnipropetrovsk and Zaporizhzhia regions. “These [bridges] are used by the enemy to transfer personnel, weapons, ammunition and logistical supplies,” Ukraine’s General Staff said in a statement. On Monday, a highway bridge near the town of Novoazovsk on the southern coast of the Donetsk region also partially collapsed as a result of a Ukrainian attack. That bridge is part of the R-280 Novorossiya highway, a route connecting southern Russia to annexed Crimea that has faced repeated Ukrainian drone strikes. Ukraine began ratcheting up its attacks against fuel supply lines in Crimea and Russian oil refineries this spring. After upgrading its long-range drone capabilities, Kyiv now claims it can strike at will along the land corridor through occupied southeastern Ukraine. Read more about: Occupied Ukraine , Ukraine war , Donetsk Sign up for our free weekly newsletter Our weekly newsletter contains a hand-picked selection of news, features, analysis and more from The Moscow Times. You will receive it in your mailbox every Friday. Never miss the latest news from Russia. Preview Subscribers agree to the Privacy Policy We sent a confirmation to your email. Please confirm your subscription. A Message from The Moscow Times: Dear readers, We are facing unprecedented challenges. Russia's Prosecutor General's Office has designated The Moscow Times as an "undesirable" organization, criminalizing our work and putting our staff at risk of prosecution. This follows our earlier unjust labeling as a "foreign agent." These actions are direct attempts to silence independent journalism in Russia. The authorities claim our work "discredits the decisions of the Russian leadership." We see things differently: we strive to provide accurate, unbiased reporting on Russia. We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. But to continue our work, we need your help. Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just $2. It's quick to set up, and every contribution makes a significant impact. By supporting The Moscow Times, you're defending open, independent journalism in the face of repression. Thank you for standing with us. Once Monthly Annual Continue Not ready to support today? Remind me later. × Remind me next month Remind me Thank you! Your reminder is set. We will send you one reminder email a month from now. For details on the personal data we collect and how it is used, please see our Privacy Policy. Read more Russia Says Captured 2 More East Ukraine Settlements in Donetsk and Kharkiv Regions Russia's Defense Ministry said Sunday it had captured the village of Piddubne in Donetsk and Sobolivka in Kharkiv. 1 Min read Ukrainian Drone Attacks Injure 15 in Occupied Donetsk Region Meanwhile, Ukraine reported no overnight Russian drone strikes between Monday and Tuesday, marking the first such pause in months. 1 Min read Ukrainian Airstrikes on Occupied Donetsk Kill 3, Moscow-Backed Official Says Local authorities accused the Ukrainian military of firing HIMARS rockets on a square in the region’s main city of Donetsk. 1 Min read Russian Pop-Rock Star Visits Soldiers in Occupied Ukraine, Deletes Past Anti-War Posts Singer Roman Bilyk and his hit band Zveri previously condemned the war in Ukraine on social media, but the posts have since been deleted. 1 Min read