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Second bridge in Kyiv comes under attack

Kyiv bridge attack has widened Russia's pressure on critical transport routes in the Ukrainian capital. Mayor Vitaliy Klitschko said the Pivnichnyi (Northern) Bridge was hit on Saturday morning, leaving two people injured and damaging the road surface and overhead trolleybus cables.

Following the strike, traffic from the left bank to the right bank was suspended on the bridge, causing fresh congestion in the city. The development came after the Pivdennyi (Southern) Bridge was also targeted multiple times by Russian drones earlier this week.

These two bridges over the Dnipro River connect Kyiv's west and east sides. According to the BBC, the crossings had not previously been hit by Thursday.

How did the attacks affect transport and daily life?

The back-to-back strikes disrupted road, rail and trolleybus links across the river. With the drone threat continuing, restrictions were also introduced on other routes, and traffic congestion was seen on the city's roads for a second straight day, although the gridlock seen on Friday was not repeated to the same extent.

  • The Northern Bridge suffered damage to the road surface and trolleybus infrastructure.
  • Previous attacks on the Southern Bridge increased pressure on east-west transport.

In Kyiv, where around 3 million people live, many residents travel across the city by metro every day. City officials say there is concern that if the new bridge-targeting tactic continues, it could create a lasting transport problem that would effectively split the capital in two.

After the earlier attacks on the Southern Bridge, Kyiv's Defense Council held an emergency meeting on Friday. Klitschko later said the city's critical infrastructure, logistics networks and residential areas were under intense pressure.

Russia's statement and possible scenarios

Moscow confirmed the attacks, claiming the two bridges are used to move Ukrainian troops and military cargo. Russia also renewed its call for foreign nationals, including diplomats, to leave Kyiv.

What risks do experts see for the bridges?

Experts say drones alone may not be enough to bring down the bridges, but repeated attacks could force closures and weaken structural resilience. If heavier weapons are used, some bridges that are already carrying heavier traffic than they were designed for could face a collapse risk.

Ukrainian lawmakers have recently discussed the condition of Kyiv's bridges and, in the event of any destruction, examined options such as ferries or temporary pontoon bridges to keep the city connected. Meanwhile, local officials said at least 12 people were injured overnight in Russian attacks on the Dnipropetrovsk, Kharkiv and Kyiv regions.

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