Vladimir Putin and Russian army chiefs are displaying their hand as they rushed to interchange the highway bridge hit by Ukraine's forces final week, the British Ministry of Defence advised in its newest each day intelligence evaluation.

With their strike on Chonhar highway bridge, Ukrainian troops hit what has been dubbed the "gate to Crimea" and impacted essentially the most direct route from the peninsula, which fell into Russian fingers in 2014, and the southern Kherson area nonetheless occupied by Moscow's troops.

Explaining the significance of the world for Russia, the UK MoD's evaluation learn: "These bridges service one of two main road supply routes between Crimea and Kherson.

"The route over the Chonhar bridges are essentially the most direct route from Russia’s Crimean logistics hub at Dzhankoi and the Zaporizhzhia sector, the place Russia is at the moment defending towards a serious Ukrainian offensive.

"The temporary closure of the route caused vital Russian logistics convoys to take at least 50 per cent longer to reach the front via alternative routes.

"Reports point out that Russian authorities virtually actually constructed a pontoon bridge substitute crossing withing 24 hours of the assault; it's extremely possible that crossings are restricted to army visitors solely.

"The pace with which an alternate crossing was constructed signifies how very important this route is to the Russian army efforts in occupied Ukraine."

The Ukrainian assault was carried out within the early hours of June 22, with Russian officers within the space confirming visitors needed to be diverted to a unique route in consequence.

The assault did not trigger any casualties, in accordance with Vladimir Saldo, the Russian-appointed governor of Kherson.

In a message shared through the Telegram messaging app alongside a video filmed on the bridge, Mr Saldo claimed the assault would "not affect" the course of the "special military operation" - as Russia calls the invasion of Ukraine - given there are "other land routes to Crimea".

While the bridge was not completely destroyed, the assault created a gap giant sufficient for water to be seen flowing beneath it, as footage shared final week present.

The strike was described as a "blow to the military logistics of the occupiers" by Yuriy Sobolevsky, a Ukrainian official in Kherson.

In a message on Telegram, he added: "The psychological impact on the occupiers and the occupying power is even more important.

"There isn't any place on the territory of Kherson area the place they will really feel protected."