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Four Straight Days of Attacks on Kyiv’s Bridges

Kyiv’s bridges were struck for a fourth day in a row in Russian drone attacks targeting critical infrastructure in the capital. The Pivnichnyi (North) Bridge was hit for the second consecutive day on Sunday morning, injuring two people. Earlier in the week, the Pivdennyi (South) Bridge was targeted several times.

Fresh damage at two main crossings

Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko said the latest attack damaged the roadway on the North Bridge. Images showed a drone hitting the structure and exploding as vehicles were crossing, sending thick black smoke billowing over the bridge. Other footage shared on social media showed a large hole in the middle of the roadway.

The Russian Defense Ministry said it would intensify strikes on Kyiv and other Ukrainian regions. Moscow had previously claimed that the two bridges hit were being used to move Ukrainian troops.

Transport network under strain, temporary options on the table

Eight bridges over the Dnipro River connect Kyiv’s right and left banks. In the capital, home to about 3 million people, metro and rail lines are also vital for crossing the river; around 500,000 vehicles use the bridges every day.

Although the two damaged bridges remain standing, the damage and traffic restrictions have at times brought parts of the city to a standstill. While municipal crews work on repairs, city officials are considering different options to maintain connectivity.

  • Building a temporary floating bridge
  • Launching ferry services
  • Studying the option of an under-river tunnel

Separately, another Russian drone attack damaged a main heating line, prompting a temporary hot water outage in the northeastern Desnianskyi district of the city.

New aid package announced during Merz’s Kyiv visit

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz made a surprise visit to Kyiv as the attacks continued and met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. The two leaders laid wreaths for Ukrainian soldiers killed in the war. Merz reaffirmed Germany’s support, while Zelenskyy said Berlin had agreed to a new aid package worth more than €1.3 billion.

According to Zelenskyy, the package is intended both to cover urgent weapons needs and to support Ukraine’s energy sector before winter. That same night, Russian drones reportedly struck a warehouse in the Sumy region, killing one person, while an attack on a communications facility in Dnipro injured six people. The Ukrainian Air Force said 135 drones were launched overnight, including 52 jet-powered drones, and that 125 were shot down.

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