A Russian strike hit Kyiv's Northern Bridge on Saturday, halting traffic from the left bank to the right bank and deepening a transport crisis that began when the Southern Bridge was shut a day earlier. Mayor Vitali Klitschko announced the strike on Telegram after a drone alert in the capital. "Northern Bridge has been hit," he wrote. "Emergency services are heading to the scene."
Klitschko later reported damage to the road surface and to the overhead wires that power trolleybuses on the bridge. "Traffic across the bridge from the left bank to the right bank is currently blocked," he said.
Targeting the Dnipro crossings
The strike is the latest in a series aimed at the crossings over the Dnipro, the river that separates Kyiv's eastern and western districts. Eight bridges connect the two sides, and city officials say the campaign is "tearing Kyiv apart." The Southern Bridge, a cable-stayed span and one of the city's main crossings, was closed on Friday after waves of fast, jet-powered drones struck. Officials said it had been hit several times since Thursday. Movement on another bridge was also restricted.
The closures brought severe congestion across the city. Cars and buses stood in long queues on major roads as drivers looked for other ways across, and some commuters had to finish their journeys on foot. Klitschko warned on Friday that the capital should now be on a war footing.
Since Russia's full-scale invasion in February 2022, the war has largely been fought on the ground in the east, and Kyiv has mostly been spared the destruction seen near the front line. However, the recent attacks on infrastructure, including strikes on the power grid, signal a shift in tactics aimed at breaking civilian morale.
The targeting of bridges is a deliberate strategy to isolate the capital and disrupt daily life. With two of the eight crossings now out of action, the city's logistics are severely strained. Emergency services are working to assess the damage, but no timeline has been given for reopening the Northern Bridge.
Residents are bracing for further attacks. "We are used to the sirens, but this is different," said Olena, a Kyiv resident waiting at a bus stop near the left bank. "They are trying to cut the city in half."
The European Union has condemned the strikes, with officials reiterating support for Ukraine's defense. The Bulgarian prime minister's recent call for diplomacy highlights the ongoing debate within the bloc over how to respond to Russian aggression.
As the city adapts to the new reality, authorities are urging residents to plan alternative routes and expect delays. The long-term impact on Kyiv's infrastructure remains uncertain, but the resilience of its people is evident.
