A Russian strike has damaged a second major bridge in Ukraine’s capital, Kyiv, raising concerns about transport disruption and the vulnerability of critical infrastructure in the city.
Kyiv Mayor Vitaliy Klitschko said the attack occurred on Saturday morning, hitting the Pivnichnyi, also known as the Northern Bridge, across the Dnipro River.
According to Klitschko, two people were injured, while the impact damaged the bridge’s road surface and overhead trolleybus wires. The incident also disrupted traffic, with authorities reporting that movement across the bridge from the left bank to the right bank had been blocked.
The attack followed several reported Russian drone strikes against the Pivdennyi, or Southern Bridge, earlier in the week.
Attacks Disrupt Transport Across the Dnipro River
The Northern and Southern bridges connect different parts of Kyiv across the Dnipro River and serve as important routes for residents and other road users.
Klitschko said emergency services were responding to the latest incident and warned that the attacks were placing increasing pressure on the capital’s infrastructure.
The reported damage has disrupted road transport and affected trolleybus services. Rail connections have also been cited among the transport links facing disruption in the wider situation described in the report.
Kyiv, which has a population of approximately three million people, relies heavily on its public transport network, including the metro, to move residents between the eastern and western parts of the city.
The repeated attacks have raised concerns that further damage or temporary closures could make daily travel more difficult.
Kyiv Authorities Warn of Wider Infrastructure Threat
Following the earlier attacks on the Southern Bridge, Kyiv’s defence council held a crisis meeting on Friday to discuss the situation.
Klitschko subsequently described the circumstances as serious, saying Russian attacks were affecting critical infrastructure, logistics, housing and other important facilities.
Ukrainian officials fear that repeated strikes could force the closure of bridges even if the structures are not immediately destroyed.
Experts cited in the report said drone attacks might not necessarily bring down the bridges, but repeated impacts could damage their components and weaken their structural integrity.
More powerful weapons could pose a greater risk to the structures, particularly if existing maintenance concerns make them vulnerable.
Russia Claims Bridges Have Military Significance
Moscow said its drones had targeted the two bridges because they were used to transport Ukrainian troops and military cargo.
Russia also urged foreign nationals, including diplomats, to leave Kyiv.
Russian President Vladimir Putin has described Russia’s attacks as a response to Ukrainian strikes against Russian energy facilities. However, the account provided notes that Russian attacks on Ukrainian energy infrastructure preceded the strikes cited by Moscow as justification.
The competing accounts reflect the continuing conflict between Russia and Ukraine over military operations and attacks on infrastructure.
Contingency Plans Under Discussion
Ukrainian lawmakers have reportedly discussed possible measures to maintain transport links if Kyiv’s bridges become unusable.
Options mentioned include ferries and temporary pontoon bridges that could help people cross the river if existing routes were destroyed or closed for an extended period.
For now, the immediate concerns are the reported injuries, repairs to damaged infrastructure and the potential for further attacks to disrupt movement across the capital.
