A major bridge across the Dnipro River in Kyiv was damaged during a Russian air attack on Saturday, according to Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko, as Russian strikes on infrastructure continued to disrupt movement in the Ukrainian capital.
Klitschko said the Northern Bridge was hit during the attack, prompting emergency services to respond to the scene. Traffic from Kyiv’s eastern bank to the western bank was suspended after the road surface and overhead trolleybus cables were damaged. No casualties were immediately reported.
The incident follows several attacks on other bridges across the Dnipro in recent days. The Southern Bridge has been struck repeatedly by Russian drones, leading authorities to temporarily restrict or suspend traffic across it and other crossings.
The bridges are particularly important to Kyiv because they connect the city’s eastern and western banks. More than one-third of Kyiv’s population of about three million people lived on the eastern side before Russia’s full-scale invasion, while many residents travel to the western bank for work and government or business activities.
The latest attacks have caused significant traffic problems across the capital. Earlier strikes forced the partial or complete closure of several bridges, creating long queues as commuters searched for alternative routes.
Ukrainian officials have expressed concern about the increasing focus on infrastructure in and around Kyiv as Russia intensifies its aerial campaign. The attacks have also raised concerns about the impact on transport, electricity and other essential services as Ukraine approaches another winter of war.
Russia’s Defence Ministry has said its strikes against bridges and other infrastructure are directed at targets it considers connected to military activity. Moscow has repeatedly denied systematically targeting civilians.
The latest damage comes amid a broader escalation in long-range attacks between Russia and Ukraine. Kyiv has also increased drone strikes against Russian energy facilities, while both sides continue to seek ways to strengthen their air-defence capabilities.
For residents of Kyiv, the repeated attacks on major bridges are adding to disruption in daily life and increasing concerns about transportation and access between the two sides of the city. Authorities are assessing the damage and determining when affected crossings can safely reopen.