Russia has built “phantom bridges” in Ukraine in the hope of evading Western precision weapons systems that have crippled its war efforts in the south of the country.

Kyiv’s forces have used American-supplied Himars missile launchers to pummel bridges across the Dnieper river in Russian-controlled Kherson in preparation for what is anticipated to be a major counter-offensive to retake the region.

By knocking out the crossings, Ukraine has severely hampered the logistical routes Russia uses to resupply troops, leaving thousands of soldiers at risk.

Radar imagery published in the wake of a strike on the Antonivskyi Bridge, which Western intelligence sources said had rendered the crossing unusable, suggested Russian forces had begun constructing a temporary pontoon to ferry supplies and civilians across the river.

But subsequent analysis of satellite and video footage by The War Zone magazine revealed that Moscow had deployed radar reflectors alongside the damaged bridge to make a new parallel crossing appear on satellite-based radar systems while repairs were carried out on the actual bridge.

Read more: The Telegraph