The Russian Armed Forces have installed a pontoon bridge in the border area of Kursk Region

Servicemen of the engineering unit of the "North" group of troops have installed a pontoon bridge to ensure the passage of military and civilian equipment in the border area of Kursk Region. This was reported in the Russian Defense Ministry on December 4.

As indicated in the department, the construction of the pontoon bridge begins with the choice of location and engineering reconnaissance, which checks the original and opposite shore for the presence of mine and explosive barriers. With the help of modern equipment the bank landscape is checked for passability of vehicles, as well as the river bottom is inspected. Then a truck arrives and drops the sections into the water.

After the river link weighing 7 tons is opened, the calculation immediately fixes several pontoons to each other. At this time, the next link is already ready for dumping. These links are then connected to form a complete bridge. The sections are connected with each other by a tugboat BMK-460, capable of carrying more than 50 tons.

Each link of the crossing can carry up to 20 tons, and in a coupling this figure increases in proportion to the number of links. Thus, three links hold 60 tons and are capable of providing a crossing for any tank, not to mention lighter vehicles.

"With the help of standard means of engineering armament we determine the width, depth of the water obstacle and the passability of the soil of the banks, the slope of the banks. <...> In this place the current velocity does not exceed 1 m/s, so the ground is muddy, the banks are covered with sand. During the engineering reconnaissance it was revealed that this section of the water barrier meets all the requirements for the establishment of a pontoon-bridge crossing and further movement of equipment to the opposite bank", - said the commander of the engineering and bridge construction platoon with the call sign Kuzbass.

The Defense Ministry emphasized that the installation of the pontoon bridge was carried out in difficult conditions. The erection of the bridge was jeopardized by possible shelling by artillery of the Armed Forces of Ukraine (AFU), mortars and FPV drones of the enemy. Erection of such bridges and ferries ensures safe crossing of military equipment, as ferries are not tied to the terrain and are able to change their location.

Earlier, on November 23, the Russian Defense Ministry reported that military engineers of the "North" group of troops as part of the task of ensuring the safety of Russian troops and civilians are restoring bridges and crossings destroyed by AFU militants in the border area of Kursk region. The sappers are also inspecting infrastructure facilities for explosive objects and clearing roads, paving the way for assault units.

Ukrainian militants attacked Russian positions in the border areas of the Kursk region on August 6. The situation in the region was recognized as a state of emergency of federal character. The operation to destroy the AFU continues.

The special operation to protect Donbass, the beginning of which was announced by the Russian Federation on February 24, 2022, continues. The decision was taken against the background of the aggravated situation in the region.