🔶 Russia’s drone attack on Kyiv’s important bridge; widespread disruption to traffic

🔶 Russia’s drone attack on Kyiv’s important bridge; widespread disruption to traffic

Russia’s drone attacks on Kyiv on Friday morning, October 2 (October 10), disrupted traffic in parts of the Ukrainian capital and prompted city officials to shut down several bridges over the Dnipro River.

Vitaliy Klitschko, the mayor of Kyiv, said that a drone hit the “South Bridge,” a bridge that is considered one of the most important transportation routes between the two sides of the Ukrainian capital.

Following these attacks, another bridge was completely closed and another was also closed partially, although no report of a drone strike on these two bridges was published.

The South Bridge is not only a route for cars. Metro lines also run over it, and there are three lanes of vehicle traffic on it.

The bridge connects the two banks of the Dnipro River and, for that reason, is one of Kyiv’s key traffic corridors.

Disruption along such a route quickly made itself felt on the capital’s streets on Friday morning.

The closure of the bridges in the morning hours caused long lines of vehicles in Kyiv, and residents were forced to choose other routes in the city to reach their destinations.

Vehicles in heavy traffic near the bridge in Kyiv after Russia’s overnight drone attack on the bridges of the Ukrainian capital Vehicles in heavy traffic near the bridge in Kyiv after Russia’s overnight drone attack on the bridges of the Ukrainian capital

The South Bridge and the Paton Bridge—two main routes used by residents of southern Kyiv—were among the bridges where traffic restrictions were imposed.

In videos shared on social media, people could be seen walking across a bridge where vehicle and tram traffic had been halted.

These restrictions particularly affected the lives of residents on the eastern bank of the Dnipro River. According to witnesses, the authorities granted permission again around midday for traffic to resume over the bridges.

The Russian Ministry of Defense also reported on drone attacks on a road and rail bridge which, according to the ministry, is important for Ukraine’s military logistics.

The ministry also said that an electrical substation in western Kyiv was targeted.

In the report provided, it was not specified whether the bridge mentioned by the Russian Ministry of Defense is the same as Kyiv’s South Bridge.

This was not the first attack on the South Bridge in recent days. The day before, drones had also hit this bridge.

According to Klitschko, during Thursday’s attacks, parts of a bridge pier, guardrails, the roadway surface, and a protective concrete barrier for the metro were damaged.