RIGHT SPEAK: UKRaine Steps Up Campaign to Isolate RUssian-Occupied Crimea; RU Fails to Restore Positions Near Urozhayne in Shakhtarske Direction; UKR Forces Report Hitting 2 RU Ammunition Depots in S. Ukraine; Overnight Attack On Crimea: UKR's Security Service Report Dozens of RU Occupiers Killed and Injured, LIVE UPDATES and MORE

WSJ: Ukraine Steps Up Campaign to Isolate Russian-Occupied Crimea

Ukraine targeted the only bridge linking Crimea to Russia on Saturday, stepping up a campaign to isolate the peninsula that was annexed by Moscow in 2014.

Sergei Aksyonov, the Russian-installed head of Crimea, said two Ukrainian missiles were shot down over the Kerch Strait early on Saturday. Hours later, he said another missile had been intercepted in the area. Russia’s Defense Ministry said Ukrainian forces had attempted to strike the bridge with a modified surface-to-air missile.

The bridge wasn’t damaged, Russia’s TASS news agency quoted Aksyonov as saying, adding that a temporary smokescreen to obscure the bridge from attacks had been placed over the bridge.

Ukrainian officials didn’t comment on the strikes.

Kyiv’s goal is to undermine Russia’s position on the territory and make it harder for Moscow to support its occupying force in southern Ukraine.

With the prospects of a front-line breakthrough dimming, Ukraine has sought to reach behind the front line using longer-range missiles supplied by Western allies to strike in and around Crimea.

Earlier this month, long-range missiles slammed into two bridges connecting Crimea to Russian-occupied territory in southern Ukraine, where Kyiv’s army is struggling to break through Russian entrenchments.

By choking off replenishments of necessities to and from Crimea, Ukraine hopes its limited forces can make life and military operations on the Russian-controlled area untenable, forcing some kind of retreat or negotiation, or permitting a Ukrainian invasion to retake Crimea, according to military analysts.

More immediately, Kyiv is working to weaken Russian defenses in the south of the country, where Ukrainian forces are struggling to advance through Russian minefields and other obstacles.

“When there is not enough progress on the front line, the importance of these strikes increases,” said Mykola Bielieskov, a research fellow at the Kyiv-based National Institute for Strategic Studies, a government-backed think tank. “Everything that complicates and increases time plays to our advantage.”

Ukrainian forces have retaken about 150 square miles of territory since launching the counteroffensive in June, but hopes of a breakthrough have collided with the reality of Russian minefields, extensive fortifications and air power.

The Crimean Peninsula is only the size of Massachusetts but has outsize strategic and symbolic weight. --->READ MORE HERE

Enemy fails to restore positions near Urozhayne in Shakhtarske direction:

In Shakhtarske direction, the Russians unsuccessfully tried to restore the lost positions in the area of Urozhayne, Donetsk region.

“Over the past day, August 12, the enemy launched 22 airstrikes, carried out 27 combat engagements, launched 744 attacks, using tanks, MLRS, and tube artillery,” the joint press center of the Defense Forces of Tavria direction posted on Facebook.

In Avdiyivka direction, under heavy enemy aircraft and artillery fire, Ukrainian defenders continue to hold back the advance of Russian troops in the area of Avdiyivka, Donetsk region.

More than 10 settlements, including Avdiyivka, Sieverne, Netaylove, Nevelske, Karlivka in Donetsk region, were hit with artillery.

In Maryinka direction, the defense forces continue to hold back the advance of Russian troops near Maryinka, Donetsk region.

The enemy launched an airstrike in the area of Krasnohorivka, Donetsk region.

More than 10 settlements, including Oleksandropil, Maksymilyanivka, Pobieda, Novomykhaylivka, Yelyzavetivka in Donetsk region, came under artillery fire.

In Shakhtarske direction, the enemy made unsuccessful attempts to restore the lost positions in the area of Urozhayne, Donetsk region. About 15 settlements, including Bohoyavlenka, Zolota Nyva, Blahodatne, Staromayorske, Novosilka, Novopil in Donetsk region, were hit with artillery. --->READ MORE HERE