Russia has begun striking Kyiv’s bridges across the Dnipro for the first time since invading Ukraine

Since beginning its invasion of Ukraine, Russia has started targeting Kyiv’s bridges over the Dnipro River for the first time. On October 1 and 2, drones attacked the Southern Bridge, causing damage to a bridge support, guardrail, road surface, and a concrete barrier along metro tracks. The bridge remains closed to cars and trains.

On October 3, the Northern Bridge was struck, injuring two people and damaging the road surface and overhead trolleybus power lines; it is now partially closed to traffic. Kyiv has nine bridges across the Dnipro, but Ukrainian experts claim that drones alone cannot destroy them, and that more powerful weapons would be required. Nonetheless, persistent drone assaults could compromise the safety of the bridges, compelling traffic cessation and severely disrupting transportation in Kyiv.

The attacks on the Southern Bridge have already triggered significant traffic congestion in the Ukrainian capital.

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy alleged that Russian President Vladimir Putin had ordered his military commanders to disregard the rules of warfare when conducting airstrikes on Ukraine. Zelenskyy claimed he learned of the directive from intercepted communications intercepted in September when Russia’s strikes on Kyiv became more frequent and inflicted greater damage upon civilian infrastructure.

Despite the ongoing strikes, Western diplomats were reportedly preparing contingency plans to relocate their embassies from Kyiv, though Ukraine’s Foreign Ministry denied this information. Russia has once again urged Western diplomats to leave Kyiv, viewing the withdrawal of embassies as a propaganda triumph for Moscow.

On October 2, Russia targeted Kharkiv with guided aerial bombs, damaging residential buildings, offices, and an educational facility. Tragically, two individuals were killed and over thirty were injured in the attack.