Russia hits two Kyiv bridges within days — SkimNews
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- Russia struck the Pivnichnyi (Northern) Bridge in Kyiv on Saturday morning, injuring two people, damaging the road surface and overhead trolleybus wires, according to Mayor Vitaliy Klitschko.
- Pivdennyi (Southern) Bridge was hit multiple times by Russian drones earlier in the week — the first strikes on either crossing came Thursday, meaning both Kyiv bridges spanning the Dnipro were attacked within days.
- Russia said the drones targeted the bridges because they are used to transfer Ukrainian troops and military cargo, and again urged foreign citizens, including diplomats, to leave Kyiv.
- Experts told the BBC that Russian drones are unlikely to collapse the bridges outright, but repeated strikes will force closures and risk weakening structures that are already reportedly in poor condition from years of heavier-than-designed traffic.
- Putin justified the attacks as a direct response to Ukraine's strikes on Russian oil refineries and Black Sea ships — even while admitting Russia had first launched such attacks and that Ukraine's refinery strikes cost Russia about 1% of GDP.
- Zelensky told the Financial Times that "The Russians have failed to occupy us. So now they are carrying out massive attacks and mass killings," adding: "They want to destroy our bridges, our data centres, the internet, mobile networks, hospitals, kindergartens, schools, universities — everything."
Why it matters: The two Dnipro crossings carry the road, rail, and trolleybus links for a city of about three million residents; Klitschko warned the attacks could cut Kyiv in two, and Ukrainian lawmakers have already discussed ferries and pontoon bridges as contingencies if the crossings are destroyed.
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