Russia strikes second major Kyiv bridge in shift

The conflict in Ukraine has escalated as authorities report that Russian forces have struck a second major bridge in the Ukrainian capital. Vitali Klitschko, the mayor of Kyiv, announced via Telegram on Saturday that the attack damaged the road surface and trolleybus overhead wires on the Northern Bridge, also known as the Pivnichnyi Bridge, resulting in blocked traffic across the span.

This strike follows attacks on another key city crossing, the Southern (Pivdennyi) Bridge, which was targeted multiple times by Russian drones on Thursday and Friday. Klitschko had previously warned that such assaults were tearing Kyiv apart. Connecting the eastern and western portions of the capital, both the Northern and Southern bridges had remained unhit prior to Thursday, signaling a new phase in Moscow's military strategy.

Strikes on the Southern Bridge have caused severe travel disruptions since Thursday, forcing the suspension of metro and vehicle traffic. Approximately three million people live in Kyiv, and many rely heavily on the metro system to commute across the city. Passengers caught in the aftermath of the Southern Bridge attack reported that dust from the blast wave entered their carriages through the ventilation system.

"Hitting the North Bridge. Emergency services are on their way."

Vitali Klitschko

Meanwhile, the Russian defence ministry confirmed it targeted the bridge, claiming it was utilized for military troop transfers and logistics. Moscow also stated it struck a logistics center within the city, a detail not mentioned by Mayor Klitschko. Russian President Vladimir Putin asserted that these actions were responses to Ukrainian strikes on Russian energy facilities, despite Moscow having initiated such attacks first.