The US is starting to build a floating bridge after its main supply route between Kherson and the eastern side was destroyed by Ukrainian forces. Over the weekend Russia “probably started moving barges into position to build a major floating bridge” over the Dnipro River, British intelligence said on Tuesday. It comes after two road bridges providing vital access to Russian-held Kherson were rendered useless after being hit by Ukrainian missile strikes earlier in August. Crossing the river by ferry has been used for several weeks by Russian forces and local civilians as an alternative. “If Russia completes the makeshift bridge, it will almost certainly increase the capacity of the crossing point compared to the ferry,” the Defense Ministry said in a briefing.

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The Antonivskyi Bridge over the Dnipro River was hit by Ukrainian forces / REUTERS “A floating bridge will likely still be vulnerable to Ukrainian aggression.” Meanwhile, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy fears a threat from Russia may be imminent on the eve of his nation’s independence day. In his daily address he said: “We should be aware that this week Russia may try to do something particularly bad, something particularly cruel.” Continued shelling and fighting near Europe’s largest nuclear power plant, in Zaporizhia in southeastern Ukraine, has raised fears of a nuclear disaster. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres warned on Monday about the nuclear threat in general. Mr Guterres called for an end to the “nuclear sword” on Monday, saying the world was in a “moment of greatest danger” and all countries with nuclear weapons must commit to “no first use”. That did not prevent shelling near Zaporizhia early Tuesday. Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Station near Enerhodar / REUTERS Regional governor Valentyn Reznichenko said Russian forces shelled nearby Marhanets and Nikopol on the right bank of the Dnipro River, continuing weeks of relentless overnight shelling. Amidst the destruction, there was a small spot of light. All professional football stopped in February, but a new league season begins on Tuesday in Kyiv. The Olympic Stadium will see the opening meeting between Shakhtar Donetsk and Metalist 1925 from Kharkiv — teams from eastern cities fighting for their very existence. No fans will be allowed in the 65,000-capacity center ground for the 1pm local time kick-off and players must be rushed to bomb shelters if air raid sirens sound.