Russian drones hit key Kyiv bridge, disrupting transport

KYIV, October 1 - Two Russian drones struck a major bridge linking eastern and western Kyiv on Thursday, Mayor Vitali Klitschko reported via Telegram. The drones targeted the support section of the Southern Bridge, causing metro services and ground public transport across the bridge to be halted. Russia has ramped up its drone and missile assaults on Kyiv throughout the past few months, leaving the capital in a nearly constant state of alert.

Videos posted on Telegram displayed an explosion near a support column of the cable-stayed bridge, which serves as both a road and rail crossing for the city, while thick black smoke billowed into the air. Klitschko stated that experts are currently evaluating the bridge for structural damage. According to Ukraine's air force, the number of Russian drone assaults on the nation surged in September, with 3,177 attacks recorded up to September 29.

In August, 2,850 strikes were documented. Russia employs high-speed jet-powered attack drones that are more challenging to intercept compared to conventional models, which are based on Iranian Shaheds. Concerns have been mounting in Ukraine about a potential Russian assault on the Dnipro river bridges, which are vital lifelines for the city's estimated three million inhabitants.

Earlier on Wednesday, Sergiy "Flash" Beskrestnov, a presidential advisor to Volodymyr Zelensky, disclosed via Telegram that Russia had begun deploying a jet-powered drone intended to sever high-voltage power lines and steel bridge components. "I believe the enemy is planning to target critical high-voltage power transmission lines," Beskrestnov wrote.

On Wednesday, Russia also announced it had struck Ukraine's energy infrastructure, signaling what Kyiv claims will be the first move in an anticipated campaign aimed at disrupting power and heating supplies during the upcoming winter.