Russia hits second Kyiv bridge as infrastructure assault intensifies

Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko confirmed that a Russian strike damaged the Northern Bridge on Saturday morning, adding to a rapidly escalating campaign against the city’s critical infrastructure. The attack harmed the roadway surface and disrupted trolleybus overhead lines, forcing the closure of traffic moving from the left to the right bank while emergency responders arrived at the scene.

This incident follows repeated drone strikes on the Southern Bridge that began on Thursday. Klitschko warned that the sustained bombardment is “tearing Kyiv apart,” targeting the capital’s logistics, housing, and key facilities. The two bridges serve as vital connections between the eastern and western districts and had remained untouched until the recent surge in hostilities.

Following the initial strikes on the Southern Bridge, Kyiv’s defense council convened an emergency meeting on Friday. Klitschko described the current circumstances as “very dramatic,” highlighting the severity of the damage to civilian and strategic assets. After the Thursday attack, which shattered cables on the Southern Bridge, passengers reported dust from blast waves entering metro carriages through ventilation systems. While metro services were temporarily suspended, road traffic eventually resumed, though disruptions continued into Friday.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has stated that Moscow’s actions are retaliatory measures in response to Ukrainian strikes on Russian energy facilities. However, the offensive pattern originated with Moscow’s initial attacks on Ukrainian power infrastructure.