{
  "id": 11407913,
  "title": "Traffic chaos in Kyiv as Russian drone strikes close bridge",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/02/traffic-chaos-in-kyiv-as-russian-drone-strikes-close-bridge",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-10-02T09:05:00.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Free Malaysia Today",
    "slug": "free-malaysia-today",
    "url": "https://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/world/2026/10/02/traffic-chaos-in-kyiv-as-russian-drone-strikes-close-bridge"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Kyiv experienced severe traffic congestion on Friday following the closure of one of the city's main bridges and restrictions on others due to Russian drone strikes. Long lines of stationary cars and buses formed on primary roads as commuters searched for alternative routes. The Southern Bridge, a crucial connection between Kyiv's eastern and western sections over the Dnipro River, was entirely closed in both directions. The Paton Bridge, located further north, remained open in one direction but did not suffer any damage.\n\nRussian drones targeted the Southern Bridge's support structures on Thursday, prompting the temporary closure for a structural inspection. The bridge reopened to traffic and Metro train services soon after, but was struck multiple times on Thursday night and early on Friday. One of these attacks damaged a bridge pier, the road surface, and a protective concrete barrier alongside the subway line.\n\nUkraine has been on high alert against Russian drone and missile attacks since the start of Russia's full-scale invasion in February 2022. The city of Kyiv, housing an estimated three million inhabitants, has been subjected to nearly constant aerial bombardment. Air raid sirens, warning of incoming threats, sound almost continuously, urging residents to seek shelter. Previous attacks have disrupted train and road networks, causing significant disruption to daily life.\n\nThe latest Russian attack resulted in the death of one person and injuries to at least two others when a 25-story residential building was struck in southeast Kyiv. The victim was discovered by firefighters putting out a blaze ignited by the blast. President Volodymyr Zelensky called on international communities to tighten sanctions against Russia, specifically targeting the production of its new, faster, and harder-to-intercept drone models. Zelensky stressed that every Russian drone is vulnerable to interception at the production line and urged Western allies for increased military support, particularly US-made Patriot missile interceptors.",
  "summary": "Traffic built up due to the complete closure in both directions on the Southern Bridge, one of eight connecting the east and west of Kyiv over the Dnipro River.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Free Malaysia Today",
        "title": "Traffic chaos in Kyiv as Russian drone strikes close bridge",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/02/traffic-chaos-in-kyiv-as-russian-drone-strikes-close-bridge-11409216",
        "published": "2026-10-02T09:05:00.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}