Russian Strike Hits Second Major Bridge in Kyiv as Infrastructure Attacks Escalate

A Russian strike has hit a second major bridge in Kyiv, according to the city's mayor, Vitaliy Klitschko, as Moscow intensifies its targeting of critical infrastructure in the Ukrainian capital. The attack on Saturday morning injured two people and caused significant traffic disruptions.

The strike targeted the Pivnichnyi (Northern) Bridge, damaging its road surface and overhead trolleybus wires. Mayor Klitschko announced on Telegram that emergency services were dispatched to the scene and that traffic on the bridge from the left to the right bank was temporarily blocked.

This latest incident follows multiple drone strikes earlier in the week on the Pivdennyi (Southern) Bridge. The two structures span the Dnipro River, linking the western and eastern halves of the capital. Prior to Thursday, neither bridge had been hit during the conflict.

Impact on Kyiv's Transport Network

The Russian strikes have severed road, rail, and trolleybus connections across the Dnipro River. The ongoing threat of drone attacks has forced authorities to implement restrictions on alternative routes, leading to traffic congestion across the city for a second consecutive day, though congestion did not reach the levels seen on Friday.

Many of Kyiv's approximately three million residents depend on the metro system for daily travel. There are growing concerns that Moscow's new strategy of sustained attacks on these crossings could effectively divide the city in two.

Following the initial strikes on the Pivdennyi Bridge, Kyiv's defence council convened a crisis meeting on Friday. Speaking after the meeting, Klitschko warned that the city faced a "very dramatic situation" as Moscow continued to target its "critical infrastructure, logistics, housing" and other essential facilities.

Structural Concerns and Contingency Plans

While experts suggest that Russian drones are unlikely to completely destroy the bridges, repeated strikes will necessitate closures and risk weakening their structural integrity. Some of the crossings are reportedly in poor condition due to years of carrying traffic loads heavier than they were designed to support, raising fears that more powerful weaponry could cause a collapse.

Ukrainian lawmakers recently discussed the condition of Kyiv's bridges, outlining contingency measures that include the potential use of ferries or temporary pontoon bridges to maintain connectivity across the Dnipro River if any permanent crossings are destroyed.

Russia has stated that its drones targeted the two bridges because they are used to transport Ukrainian troops and military cargo. Following the strikes, Moscow renewed its advisory urging foreign citizens, including diplomats, to depart the capital.

Political and Military Reactions

Russian President Vladimir Putin stated that the strikes on Ukrainian economic and infrastructure targets are a direct response to Ukrainian attacks on Russian oil refineries and Black Sea vessels. Speaking at the Valdai foreign policy forum, Putin acknowledged that Ukraine's refinery strikes had achieved "some results," costing Russia approximately 1% of its GDP. Ukraine has maintained that its strikes on Russian oil infrastructure are intended to disrupt the funding of the Kremlin's war effort.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky condemned the attacks, telling the Financial Times that Putin has decided "there are no rules now." Zelensky stated that having failed to occupy the country, Russian forces are conducting massive attacks to destroy critical infrastructure, including bridges, data centres, communication networks, hospitals, and schools, in an attempt to force residents to flee.

During the earlier attack on the Pivdennyi Bridge, passengers on a passing train described blast waves forcing dust through the carriage ventilation systems.

Developments in Other Regions

Several other security incidents were reported across the region on Saturday:

• In the Odesa region, Ukrainian port authorities reported that a Russian attack on a Black Sea port killed one sailor and injured three crew members aboard a Liberia-flagged civilian vessel.
• Overnight Russian strikes across the Dnipropetrovsk, Kharkiv, and Kyiv regions injured at least 12 people, according to local officials.
• In the Russian-occupied Luhansk region of eastern Ukraine, a Ukrainian drone attack killed two people and injured three others, according to the Moscow-installed regional head.
• Moldova summoned the Russian ambassador after reporting that five Russian drones and missiles crossed its border and exploded near several localities in four districts, though no injuries were reported.