Russian glide-bomb and drone attacks batter Zatoka bridge and Chornomorsk port in Ukraine’s southwest
Russian forces have hit Ukraine’s Zatoka bridge with at least 12 guided glide bombs in 48 hours and struck Chornomorsk port with Geran‑4 jet‑powered drones, turning a key internal road link and a major Black Sea port into repeat targets.
Russian strikes are putting renewed pressure on Ukraine’s transport and port infrastructure in the southwest.
Overnight on 15 September, Russia continued a large-scale strike campaign against the Zatoka bridge, using at least six KAB guided glide bombs launched from three Su‑34 aircraft, as well as two Geran‑4 jet-powered drones. Open-source reporting says this brings the total to 12 KAB glide bombs used against the bridge in the past 48 hours.
The Zatoka bridge connects the only route that lies entirely inside Ukraine linking the southwest to the rest of the country. It has been attacked many times in previous days, weeks, and months, and the latest wave fits that pattern of repeated efforts to damage or disable the crossing.
Chornomorsk port in Odesa region also came under attack again. Reports from the area say Russian Geran‑4 jet‑drones struck the port, with at least two impacts recorded. There was no immediate detailed assessment of damage.
For residents and drivers in the area, the focus on Zatoka means a higher chance of closures and detours on a route that carries both civilian traffic and supplies. Port workers and companies using Chornomorsk face growing uncertainty about the safety of infrastructure that supports Ukraine’s Black Sea trade.
Russia’s use of KAB glide bombs allows its Su‑34s to hit fixed targets like bridges from standoff distances, while Geran‑4 drones give it a cheaper way to reach ports and other infrastructure.
How much disruption these latest strikes cause will depend on the extent of structural damage to the bridge and the port, and on how quickly Ukraine can repair or reroute traffic.
Sources
- OSINT