Russia targets busy bridge in central Kyiv in broad daylight
The Pivdennyi bridge came under fire as a metro train was travelling across - the first such attack on Kyiv's bridges.
Russia strikes busy bridge in central Kyiv in broad daylight
The base of a central stanchion on the Pivdennyi bridge was struck late on Thursday morning.
Two Russian drones hit one of Kyiv’s main bridges, halting public transport in the Ukrainian capital and marking what appears to be a new phase in Moscow’s attacks.
The Pivdennyi, or Southern, bridge came under attack while a metro train was crossing. Passengers said dust from a blast wave entered their carriage through the ventilation system.
The Pivdennyi bridge is one of the main routes across the Dnipro river, which divides western and eastern Kyiv.
Kyiv’s bridges had not been hit before Thursday’s strikes, and despite a dramatic explosion near a major support section, city authorities said preliminary checks “did not find any critical damage to the structure”.
For Kyiv residents, the drone strikes were another stark reminder that Russia has the city firmly in its sights and is doing all it can to disrupt life in the capital.
Kyiv had just endured its first coordinated attacks on the city’s energy grid since the end of last winter, and commentators believe Russia has intensified its campaign as Ukraine faces a shortage of air defences.
Wednesday’s strikes also brought power cuts back to the capital. Although Kyiv authorities have spent months building smaller-scale power plants to prepare for Russia’s expected winter campaign, Prime Minister Serhii Koretskyi said an attack of this combined scale had not occurred since the end of spring.
The first major attack on the capital on Thursday happened when a Russian drone hit the third floor of a school at about 09:00 local time (10:00 GMT).
Although more than 100 students were in the school at the time, they had all made it to a shelter when the drone struck. One of the school’s walls partially collapsed.
“[The shelter’s] structure is strong, so none of the children were hurt, neither were any staff,” said head teacher Valentyna Chorna. “They just kept on with their lessons.”
Russia denies targeting civilians, but Chorna said that to destroy her nation “they need to destroy children”. President Volodymyr Zelensky said Russia must be held fully accountable.
Later in the morning, two drones hit the Pivdenny bridge, with one striking the base of a central stanchion.
Ukrainian 5 Kanal TV reporter Mariana Mykytenko said one passenger on her metro train shouted “Shahed”, referring to Russia’s Iranian-designed drones, before the blast sent dust pouring into the carriage.
No one in her compartment was injured, she said, and “the train took people to Vydubychi station on the right bank, then it didn’t go any further”. The right bank is on the west side of the Dnipro river.
Metro services were suspended, but road traffic was eventually allowed to resume.
It is still unclear what type of drone was used in the Kyiv bridge attack, but Ukrainian officials say a new model of Russia’s jet-powered drones was used for the first time on Wednesday.
According to Zelensky’s technology adviser Serhiy Beskrestnov, also known as Flash, the drone carries a 40kg warhead and is specifically designed to destroy high-voltage electricity pylons and iron bridge structures.
In recent weeks, Russia has had notable success with jet-powered drones, and Ukrainian air force officials say that at least 3,177 were launched during September. Their speed has created difficulties for Ukraine’s strained air defences.
Kyiv’s Institute of Nuclear Research was hit by a drone attack on Wednesday night, and earlier in the week one person was killed when a drone targeted the National Academy of Sciences.