Russia strikes Kyiv’s Northern Bridge, two injured and traffic suspended

Two people were injured after a Russian strike hit Kyiv’s Pivnichnyi (Northern) Bridge on Saturday. The strike damaged the asphalt and trolleybus lines, forcing authorities to temporarily suspend traffic on the bridge.

Kyiv Mayor Vitaliy Klitschko said emergency teams had immediately gone to the affected area. Movement from the left bank toward the right bank was blocked after the attack.

The incident occurred just days after successive Russian drone attacks on the Pivdennyi (Southern) Bridge. Both structures cross the Dnieper River and connect Kyiv’s eastern and western parts, serving as important transport and commuter links.

The repeated strikes have caused problems for road, rail and trolleybus traffic, while heavy congestion has formed in some parts of the city. Authorities have warned that continued damage could undermine the bridges’ stability and make their closure necessary.

Experts believe that the use of drones is unlikely to cause the bridges to collapse completely, but repeated attacks could render them unusable. If the main crossings over the Dnieper are cut off, Ukrainian authorities have considered using ferries or building temporary pontoon bridges as alternatives.

Klitschko described the situation in Kyiv as “very dramatic” and accused Moscow of striking critical infrastructure, logistics facilities and other sites important to the city.

Moscow, for its part, said Russian drones had struck two bridges that, according to Russian authorities, are used to transport Ukrainian troops and military cargo. Russia has also urged foreign nationals, including diplomats, to leave Kyiv.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has accused Russia of attacking Ukraine’s vital infrastructure. Russian President Vladimir Putin has portrayed the strikes as retaliation for Ukrainian attacks on energy facilities and oil infrastructure in Russia.