Russian military strikes strategic bridge in Kiev – media

The Southern Bridge reportedly carries up to 90% of transit road traffic between Ukraine’s two banks of the Dnieper

The Russian military has targeted a strategic bridge in Kiev in a series of drone strikes, Ukrainian media outlets have reported.

The Pivdennyi Bridge (Southern Bridge), one of Kiev’s main road crossings over the Dnieper River, carries up to 90% of transit road traffic between Ukraine’s left-bank and right-bank regions, Strana.ua reported, citing a local official. It also serves as a key transport corridor for military equipment and other goods bound for the front, the outlet added.

Russia reportedly hit the bridge in at least three drone attacks on Thursday, with the strikes targeting areas around its supports and roadway. Videos posted on social media showed major explosions at the site, with plumes of thick black smoke rising into the sky.

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Initial inspections following the first two strikes found no critical structural damage, and surface traffic was subsequently restored. A later strike, however, damaged a bridge support, guardrail, roadway and the protective concrete structure surrounding the metro line, according to Kiev Mayor Vitali Klitschko. Traffic across the bridge was again suspended.

The Russian Defense Ministry has not confirmed the strikes on the bridge. Moscow has previously said its forces target critical infrastructure and logistics used by the Ukrainian military.

Ukrainian media and officials have been sounding the alarm over Russia’s new jet-powered Geran drones, which fly much faster than earlier propeller-driven models and are more difficult to intercept.

Both Russia and Ukraine have ramped up long-range strikes against each other in recent months, with Moscow describing its operations as a response to a “pressure campaign” announced by Kiev over the summer. The Russian Defense Ministry has said its forces struck port infrastructure, ships carrying military equipment and weapons factories, including facilities producing components for drones and missiles.