Second Kyiv bridge hit in two days as Russia targets Dnipro crossings

Russian forces struck Kyiv's Northern Bridge on Saturday, disrupting traffic between the city's left and right banks, intensifying a transport crisis that began when the Southern Bridge was closed a day earlier. Mayor Vitali Klitschko announced the attack via Telegram following a drone alert in the capital. The Northern Bridge suffered damage to its road surface and overhead wires powering trolleybuses, causing traffic to be blocked in both directions.

Emergency services are en route to the scene. The strike is the latest in a series targeting the Dnipro river crossings, which separate Kyiv's eastern and western districts. Eight bridges link the two sides, and officials say the campaign is "tearing Kyiv apart." The Southern Bridge, a cable-stayed span and a major crossing, was shut on Friday after multiple drone strikes.

Movement on another bridge was also restricted, causing severe congestion across the city. Cars and buses formed long lines on major roads as drivers sought alternative routes, and some commuters were forced to complete their journeys on foot. Klitschko warned on Friday that the capital should now operate on a war footing. Since Russia's full-scale invasion in February 2022, the conflict has largely been fought on the ground in the east, with Kyiv largely spared the destruction seen near the front line.