Chronological coverage updated 3rd October 2026 13:59.
Update 1 · 3rd October 2026
Russian Strikes Target Key Kyiv Bridges Across Dnipro River
Russian forces hit a second major bridge in Ukraine's capital, Kyiv, on Saturday morning as Moscow escalated its targeted campaign against critical infrastructure across the city. Kyiv Mayor Vitaliy Klitschko reported that the strike on the Pivnichnyi (Northern) Bridge injured two people while damaging the road surface and overhead trolleybus power lines. Emergency services responded as traffic from the left to the right bank was brought to a halt.
The strike on the Pivnichnyi Bridge comes after the Pivdennyi (Southern) Bridge was repeatedly struck by Russian drones earlier in the week. The two structures cross the Dnipro River, connecting the eastern and western halves of Kyiv, and had not been targeted prior to Thursday. The strikes have severed road, rail, and trolleybus connections across the river, threatening daily transit for the city's estimated three million residents, many of whom rely on the metro network.
BBC News reportedly quoted Vitaliy Klitschko (Mayor of Kyiv) as saying: “the enemy is tearing Kyiv apart”.
Transit networks disrupted
Ukrainian officials convened a crisis meeting of Kyiv's defence council following the earlier bridge attacks. Engineering experts noted that while Russian drones are unlikely to collapse the heavy bridge structures completely, repeated strikes risk weakening their structural integrity, forcing prolonged closures. Ukrainian lawmakers have discussed contingency measures, including deploying ferries or constructing temporary pontoon bridges, to preserve connectivity across the river if key crossings become impassable.
BBC News reportedly quoted Vitaliy Klitschko (Mayor of Kyiv) as saying: “very dramatic situation”.
Retaliatory claims and infrastructure damage
Russian authorities stated that their drones targeted the bridges because they are used to transport Ukrainian military personnel and cargo. Moscow renewed calls for foreign citizens and diplomats to leave Kyiv. Russian President Vladimir Putin framed the offensive as a direct response to Ukrainian attacks on Russian oil refineries and Black Sea shipping.
BBC News reportedly quoted Vladimir Putin (President of Russia) as saying: “Now from every direction we're receiving calls 'let's stop'. But they started it”.
Ukrainian drone attacks on Russian oil refineries resulted in a loss of approximately 1% of Russia's Gross Domestic Product..
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky rejected Moscow's rationale, arguing that Russian strikes aim to destroy civilian infrastructure, data centres, mobile networks, and educational institutions to force residents out of urban centres. Separate attacks were reported elsewhere in Ukraine on Saturday, including a strike on the Black Sea port of Odesa that killed a sailor aboard a Liberia-flagged civilian vessel and injured three other crew members.
BBC News reportedly quoted Volodymyr Zelensky (President of Ukraine) as saying: “The Russians have failed to occupy us. So now they are carrying out massive attacks and mass killings.”.
- Kyiv's transit network across the Dnipro River is severely disrupted following strikes on two major bridges within days.
- Ukrainian lawmakers are preparing alternative transport plans including ferries and pontoon bridges if structural damage worsens.
- Russia defended the strikes as retaliation for Ukrainian refinery attacks, while Ukraine accused Moscow of attempting to make major cities uninhabitable.
