Missiles 'struck key Crimea bridge'

Ukrainian forces have carried out a missile strike on a bridge connecting Ukraine’s Kherson region and Crimea, Russia-appointed officials in both regions said.

Vladimir Saldo, the Russia-appointed Kherson governor, said the bridge was likely to have been attacked by Storm Shadow missiles that damaged the road, but traffic has been diverted to a different route. No casualties have been reported.

Crimea’s governor, Sergey Aksyonov, said specialists were examining the site to determine when traffic over the bridge could resume.

Known as “the gate to Crimea”, the Chongar bridge is one of a handful of bridges linking Crimea – which was annexed by Russia in 2014 – with the mainland. The bridges provide an alternative to the narrow isthmus connecting the peninsula and the continent.

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07:35 AM BST

Britain ‘very, very supportive’ of Ukraine fast-track Nato entry

Britain would support speedy Nato accession for Ukraine at the alliance’s summit in Vilnius next month, the Foreign Secretary indicated.

James Cleverly said that Britain would be “very, very supportive” of allowing Ukraine to skip the membership action plan, a lengthy reform process that prospective Nato allies are meant to undergo before they are allowed to apply for membership.

The remarks reflected a growing consensus in western Europe that Ukraine must join Nato after the war, but signals a possible rift between London and Washington over the timetable.

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07:34 AM BST

Ukraine counter-offensive is not like Hollywood, says Zelensky, as he admits slow progress

Volodymyr Zelensky has admitted that Ukraine’s counter-offensive is going “slower than desired” as he warned observers that it wasn’t a “Hollywood movie”.

A little more than two weeks into the attack, Ukraine has recaptured eight villages in the south, but in recent days the advance has slowed.

Ukrainian forces have had “partial success” as they continue attacking on the southern front and have weather a major assault in the east, according to a senior Ukrainian defence official.

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