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Chonhar bridge halted twice, now Arabat Spit crossing hit — Kherson’s occupied south loses two routes

russian air-defense crews now hunted ukraine bolts rocket pods its long-range drones · post nasa firms satellite detection fire arabat spit kherson oblast after ukrainian drone strike 0258 17 2026

Ukraine attempted a missile strike on a bridge connecting Henichesk to the Arabat Spit early on 10 June 2026, according to Vladimir Saldo, Russia's installed head of the occupied part of Kherson Oblast, who posted the claim on social media.

The strike is the latest in a series of Ukrainian attacks targeting road links between Russian-occupied Kherson Oblast and Crimea. The Chonhar bridge—the main overland route—was first struck on 7 June, after which traffic resumed in reversible mode; a second Ukrainian drone strike on 9 June halted movement again. Saldo had advised drivers to use alternative routes through Armyansk and Perekop.

Traffic across the Henichesk–Arabat Spit bridge has been temporarily closed, Saldo said, with emergency services on site establishing the circumstances.

Power outages across eight districts

In the same post, Saldo reported that eight municipalities were left without electricity following a separate overnight Ukrainian drone attack: Henichesk, Novotroitske, Chaplynka, Kalanchak, Ivanivka, Hornostaivka, Kakhovka, and Nova Kakhovka. Utility and emergency crews were working to restore power, he said.

Broader logistics pressure

Russian pro-war bloggers have in recent weeks reported an intensified Ukrainian drone campaign against military transport in southern Ukraine, Hromadske reports. On 30 May, Russian-occupied Crimea imposed limits on sales of A-95 petrol, citing drone strikes on Russian oil refineries; occupied Luhansk Oblast followed with similar restrictions shortly after.

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SBU names 10 Russians tied to “human safari” drone hunt on civilians in Kherson

sbu names 10 russians tied human safari drone hunt civilians kherson · post munition dropped russian explodes near two 2024 explosion civilian khersoners telegram channels ten soldiers single regiment accused

Ten Russian soldiers from a single regiment are accused of hunting civilians in Kherson with attack drones, and now face war-crimes charges filed in absentia, the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) reported. Investigators say the operators tracked people through the streets and struck ambulances and rescue crews. The 10 are among those participating in a Russian long-lasting terror campaign against Khersoners known as a "human safari." 

Kherson lies on the Dnipro River's west bank, with Russian-occupied land directly opposite, and the invading force has made it among the deadliest places to live in Ukraine by deliberately hunting civilians across the city for years.

The drone hunters of one regiment

Counterintelligence officers built a case against 10 drone operators from the 404th Motorized Rifle Regiment, a territorial-defense unit in Russia's "Dnepr" Group of Forces, the SBU reported. The investigation found that the men tracked residents as they moved along Kherson's streets and launched drones at them. The drones carried shaped-charge and high-explosive fragmentation munitions.

Kherson city (Russian-occupied area in red). Map: Deep State

Residents and rights monitors call this campaign a "human safari," the hunting of people going about their ordinary days.

Kherson: human safari rages.

A Russian fiber optic FPV drone chases a car in a residential area; after civilians cut the cable, the drone falls, catches fire.

More drones hit cars.

10 injured as a drone attacks a bus.

Drones attack high rises, flying inside the windows. pic.twitter.com/eeaeyyJdz5

— Zarina Zabrisky 🇺🇸🇺🇦 (@ZarinaZabrisky) May 13, 2026

The 10 named operators

The SBU published each suspect's name and military call sign:

  • Tsolak Grigoryan, call sign "Boroda"
  • Nikita Gubar, "Drovosek"
  • Nikolai Denisenko, "Gami"
  • Vladimir Klimov, "Klim"
  • Vyacheslav Kornenkov, "Skif"
  • Viktor Nizhnikov, "Flyaga"
  • Ruslan Nugaev, "Dok"
  • Vladimir Orlov, "Yakut"
  • Ivan Prusachenko, "Prus"
  • Oleg Pukhlyakov, "Pulya"

russians continue their human safari in Ukraine.

They’re not just killing.

They’re hunting unarmed people like animals — from drones, to cheerful music.

This is not war. This is pure evil.

Anyone still justifying russia is standing on their side.

We will never forget. pic.twitter.com/GtrjNfaU0w

— UAVoyager🇺🇦 (@NAFOvoyager) June 8, 2026

Ambulances and a double strike on rescuers

The documented episodes include attacks on civilian cars and residential blocks, the SBU said. Operators dropped explosives on ambulances at a city hospital. They also carried out a "double" strike on State Emergency Service (DSNS) rescuers who were clearing the aftermath of an earlier Russian shelling. 

UN investigators have described this Russian method in Kherson: a first strike, then a second aimed at the people who come to help. Victims suffered shrapnel wounds, burns, and concussions, and civilian infrastructure took significant damage.

Russian soldiers attacked an ambulance in Kherson with a drone.

Three medics were injured.

Another deliberate war crime. pic.twitter.com/xu3WFUQ2H0

— Денис Казанський (@den_kazansky) June 4, 2026

Charged in absentia

Based on the evidence, SBU investigators notified all 10 of suspicion under Article 438 of Ukraine's criminal code, which covers war crimes. The notices were issued in absentia. SBU officers in Kherson Oblast led the investigation with the 79th Border Detachment of the State Border Guard Service (DPSU), under the oblast prosecutor's guidance. The agency said efforts to hold the operators accountable continue.

The case fits a wider pattern Ukrainian prosecutors have documented across the oblast in thousands of proceedings. 

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