Russian drone strikes major bridge in Kyiv during Thursday attack wave
A Russian drone hit a primary bridge in Kyiv on Thursday, forcing a temporary closure of the crucial river crossing.
Russian forces launched a drone strike against a major bridge in the Ukrainian capital on Thursday, according to reports from 20 Minutes and Sveriges Radio Ekot. The targeted viaduct crosses the Dnipro river and serves as one of only two river crossings in the city used by the metro network. Municipal officials noted that this event represents the first major reported strike on one of the capital's principal bridges since the conflict began.
Emergency measures went into effect immediately following the impact, leading to the closure of the bridge. The span remained shut down for roughly one hour and thirty minutes while specialists conducted safety checks. Traffic resumed across the crossing after the initial shutdown period ended.
Municipal authorities stated that preliminary inspection results showed no critical damage to the bridge structure. City officials deployed inspection teams to evaluate the span directly after the strike occurred. No casualty figures were mentioned in the reports covering the bridge incident.
A separate incident occurred the previous day at an atomic research institute within the city, according to revelations from the Ukrainian nuclear agency. An explosive device struck the research facility grounds, but the reactor housed at the site remained untouched by the blast. Officials did not report any radioactive leak or structural failure at the research facility resulting from that strike.
Military developments across the wider country continued on multiple fronts during the same period. The Ukrainian army regained 172 square kilometres of territory in the eastern Donetsk region during September under an operation named Vilvaldi, based on calculations from Agence France-Presse using data from the Institute for the Study of War. This counter-offensive aimed to push the front line away from the key cities of Sloviansk and Kramatorsk.
Ukrainian forces also recaptured a total of 32 square kilometres across the northern region of Kharkiv and the eastern regions of Dnipropetrovsk and Lougansk. Russian forces advanced in the southern region of Zaporijjia and the northern region of Soumy, capturing 104.5 square kilometres and 20 square kilometres respectively.
What we know
- A Russian drone struck a major bridge over the Dnipro river in Kyiv on Thursday.
- The affected bridge carries metro lines and was closed for about one hour and thirty minutes.
- Municipal inspectors found no critical structural damage to the viaduct.
- An atomic research institute in Kyiv was struck by another device on the preceding day without damaging its reactor.
- Ukrainian forces reclaimed 172 square kilometres in the Donetsk region during September.
Why it matters for Europe
The capital's primary bridges function as essential transit arteries linking different sectors of the metropolitan area and supporting vital rail networks. Disruptions to these crossings directly impact civilian movement and municipal transport services across the city.
Simultaneous military engagements across multiple regions demonstrate ongoing combat operations affecting various parts of the country alongside strikes targeting the capital infrastructure.
Sources
Reported by 2 reports from 2 independent outlets in 2 countries.
- 20 Minutes: Guerre en Ukraine : La Russie coupe le pont, Poutine menace l’Europe et dit « niet » à Trump
- Sveriges Radio Ekot: Rysk drönarattack mot bro i Kyjiv
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Questions and answers
- How long was the bridge closed after the strike?
- The bridge over the Dnipro river remained closed for approximately one hour and thirty minutes before reopening.
- Did the strike cause structural damage to the bridge?
- Municipal specialists found no critical structural damage to the viaduct during preliminary inspections.
- Were there any casualties reported from the bridge strike?
- No casualties or injury figures were included in the available reports from the scene.
This article was written with AI assistance from 2 verified reports and checked under the ECTV editorial policy. Spotted an error? Request a correction.