Kyiv to find $22 million for combined water crossings over Dnipro River

On October 27, Kyiv’s Defense Council convened to discuss the project of constructing combined water crossings over the Dnipro River and associated access roads. Mayor Vitaliy Klitschko reported on Telegram that the city would allocate 1 billion hryvnias ($21.9 million) for this project. During the meeting, the military command was tasked with determining the locations of the crossings, which would then be approved by the Kyiv City Military Administration.

The discussion also focused on enhancing the safety of Kyiv’s bridges due to intensified attacks on critical infrastructure by Russia. Klitschko stated that experts from relevant agencies were developing additional technical solutions to protect the bridge crossings.

The council heard proposals from the military on improving bridge safety. Additionally, the meeting addressed the maintenance, construction, and equipping of shelters in the capital, including the installation of mobile shelters. Kyiv’s SBU Security Service and regional leaders provided a report. Earlier, Minister for Restoration, Infrastructure, and Transport Mykola Kalashnyk indicated that Kyiv intended to start building reserve crossings and was considering the long-term possibility of constructing a tunnel under the Dnipro River.

The meeting followed Russia’s ballistic missile attack on Kyiv on the evening of October 26, which continued into the early hours of October 27. The Southern Bridge was among the structures targeted. Klitschko indicated that specialists would assess the extent of the damage, with traffic currently closed on the bridge. According to the State Emergency Service, one person was killed and 15 others injured in the attacks.

President Zelenskyy confirmed that Russia launched 16 ballistic missiles, along with over 280 drones, resulting in casualties and hits in Kyiv. Prime Minister Sergiy Koretskyi directed the Ministry of Infrastructure to expedite the restoration of the bridge.