A vital bridge connecting tbesieged he city of Bakhmut to the nearby village of Khromove, and the last main supply route from Bakhmut to the city of Chasiv Yar, has been blown up overnight by Russian forces, according to multiple sources speaking with CNN.
A soldier in Bakhmut and a local official told CNN that the bridge was taken out by Russia and a photo that confirmed the destruction appeared on social media.
The bridge was hit with a Russian missile and left a large crated, according to the soldier, who added that he believes it was was an Iskander missile.
Russian forces blew up a key bridge linking the besieged city of Bakhmut to the nearby village of Khromove overnight, police in the Donetsk region said.
Police in the city of Konstantinyvka told CNN they hope to repair the bridge in the coming days since it’s a vital artery for the extraction of civilians and the movement of supplies such as ammunition.
The bridge is also the last main supply route from Bakhmut to the city of Chasiv Yar.
The military can still access the city through dirt tracks and fields, police said.
The police’s account was confirmed by a special forces solder in Bakhmut, who told CNN the bridge was hit with a Russian missile, leaving a large crater.
A mandatory evacuation order is in place in the Donetsk region and about 5,000 people remain in Bakhmut, according to Ukrainian officials.
Russian forces are advancing on Bakhmut, but the Ukrainian military says it is holding its ground in the battle for the eastern city and not planning to withdraw.
This post has been updated with additional details.