Russian strikes damage Kyiv bridges as officials plan pontoon crossings

Russian air attacks struck major bridges across Kyiv’s Dnipro River between Oct. 1 and Oct. 3, damaging infrastructure and prompting traffic closures and restrictions across the Ukrainian capital.

Mayor Vitali Klitschko said Saturday that the Northern Bridge was hit following a drone alert. The strike damaged the road surface and trolleybus wires, blocking traffic from the city’s left bank to its right bank. No casualties were reported, and emergency services were sent to the scene.

The attack followed multiple strikes on the Southern Bridge over the previous two days. Reuters reported that the Southern Bridge was hit again, while Ukrainian outlets reported damage to key crossings and major disruption to traffic. Ukrainska Pravda said authorities closed the Southern and Paton bridges and restricted traffic on the Metro Bridge. The attacks caused long queues of cars and buses on major roads.

Ukraine is preparing temporary alternatives. Reconstruction, Infrastructure and Transport Minister Mykola Kalashnyk told Suspilne that work had begun on a dam and a pontoon crossing after a coordination meeting with President Volodymyr Zelensky. He said pontoon crossings could take up to three months to build and help preserve daily traffic capacity between the two banks.

Kalashnyk said officials were also considering tunnels beneath the Dnipro, though they could cost tens of billions of hryvnias. He said protecting existing bridges, quickly repairing damage and developing reserve crossings were the government’s priorities.