Facts about Russian town of Sudza claimed by Ukraine as part of its incursion

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Thursday that the country’s military has taken full control of the town of Sudzha in Russia's Kursk region near the border with Ukraine.

Here is a glance at Sudzha:

The town, which had a population of about 5,000 before the Ukrainian incursion began on Aug. 6, is located about 10 kilometers (about 6 miles) away from the border with Ukraine. It’s the center of a district of the same name.

Sudzha was founded in the 17th century amid fighting between Russia and Poland. It thrived in the 19th century when it became famous for its ceramics.

The town suffered major damage in World War II during fighting with invading Nazi troops, but was rebuilt from ruins later.

Natural gas flowing from West Siberian gas fields to Europe via Ukraine passes through a metering station near the border in the Sudzha district.

Gas has continued flowing on to Europe despite the 2 ½-year war, allowing Russia’s Gazprom natural gas giant to earn money from the gas and letting Ukraine collect transit fees.

Ukrainian forces rolled into Sudzha hours after launching the incursion on Aug. 6, facing little opposition from lightly-armed border guards and small infantry units alongside the border. Ukrainian troops met some resistance inside Sudzha, where fighting had raged until Thursday when Zelenskyy claimed full control of the town.

Ukrainian authorities set up a military commandant’s office in Sudzha with an apparent goal to coordinate activities in the region.

A woman evacuated from a fighting between Russian and Ukrainian forces in Kursk region chooses clothes at a temporary residence center in Kursk, Russia, Monday, Aug. 12, 2024. (AP Photo)

People evacuated from a fighting between Russian and Ukrainian forces in Kursk region sit next to tents at a temporary residence center in Kursk, Russia, Monday, Aug. 12, 2024. (AP Photo)

In this photo provided by the Ukrainian Security Service Press Office, over 100 Russian prisoners of war captured by a Security Service special unit during one military action are seen in a shelter in Kursk region, Russia, Wednesday, Aug. 14, 2024. (Ukrainian Security Service Press Office via AP)

A plate with sign "Kursk 108 km" is seen on the Russian-Ukrainian border in Sumy region, Ukraine, Tuesday, Aug. 13, 2024. (AP Photo/Evgeniy Maloletka)

Ukrainian servicemen sit inside their APC after returning from Russian Kursk region, near Russian-Ukrainian border, Sumy region, Ukraine, Wednesday, Aug. 14, 2024. (AP Photo/Evgeniy Maloletka)

BERLIN (AP) — Officials are investigating why a concrete bridge partially collapsed in eastern Germany early Wednesday, disrupting a major traffic artery in Dresden and interrupting the heating system for a city nicknamed "Florence on the Elbe” for its Baroque architecture.

No one was injured when a section of the Carola Bridge fell into the Elbe River, the Dresden fire department said on its website. Police are treating the collapse as an accident, because there are no signs of foul play, according to German news agency dpa.

The bridge dates back to East Germany's formerly communist era, dpa reported, and officials at the scene said that chlorine corrosion from the time could have contributed to Wednesday's collapse.

The emergency closure of the entire bridge snarled travel for the city's tram system, as well as motorists, pedestrians and cyclists who use the span to travel between Dresden's Old Town and New Town. Boat traffic is also halted, affecting cargo ships and tourism sightseeing vessels.

Crews were alerted shortly after 3 a.m. and are concerned more of the bridge — one of several crossings over the Elbe — could collapse in the coming hours.

The last tram crossed the span just 18 minutes before the collapse, dpa reported. The section that fell was scheduled to be renovated next year, while other parts only reopened in March after months of construction.

Pipes that are part of the city's heating system were also damaged.

“In addition, due to the bursting of two large district heating pipes, we have the problem that the supply of hot water has come to a complete standstill in the entire federal state capital of Dresden,” fire department spokesman Michael Klahre told reporters.

Dresden is about 160 kilometers (100 miles) south of Berlin.

Parts of the Carola Bridge over the Elbe have collapsed in Dresden, Germany, Wednesday, Sept. 11, 2024. The State Chancellery can be seen behind it. (Robert Michael/dpa via AP)

Parts of the Carola Bridge over the Elbe have collapsed in Dresden, Germany, Wednesday, Sept. 11, 2024. (Robert Michael/dpa via AP)

Parts of the Carola Bridge over the Elbe have collapsed in Dresden, Germany, Wednesday, Sept. 11, 2024. The State Chancellery can be seen behind it. (Robert Michael/dpa via AP)

Parts of the Carola Bridge over the Elbe is seen collapsed in Dresden, eastern Germany, Wednesday, Sept. 11, 2024. (Robert Michael/dpa via AP)

Parts of the Carola Bridge over the Elbe is seen collapsed in Dresden, eastern Germany, Wednesday, Sept. 11, 2024. (Robert Michael/dpa via AP)

Parts of the Carola Bridge over the Elbe is seen collapsed in Dresden, eastern Germany, Wednesday, Sept. 11, 2024. (Robert Michael/dpa via AP)

Parts of the Carola Bridge over the Elbe have collapsed in Dresden, Germany, Wednesday, Sept. 11, 2024. (Robert Michael/dpa via AP)