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Kyiv Faces Gridlock as Russian Drones Target Key City Bridges
2 Oct
Summary
- Russian drone strikes damaged Kyiv's Southern Bridge, leading to its closure.
- The attacks caused significant traffic gridlock throughout the Ukrainian capital.
- President Zelensky urged stronger sanctions on components used in Russian drones.
Kyiv faced extensive traffic congestion on Friday due to Russian drone attacks that targeted the city's Southern Bridge. The main crossing was closed in both directions, while the Paton Bridge experienced one-way traffic restrictions. These disruptions created long queues on major roads as commuters sought alternative routes.
The Southern Bridge sustained damage to its support structures from drone strikes on Thursday, leading to a temporary closure and assessment. Further strikes on Thursday night and Friday morning exacerbated the damage, affecting the pier and road surface.
These attacks on transportation infrastructure highlight long-standing Ukrainian fears since the start of the full-scale invasion. Kyiv has been increasingly targeted by aerial bombardments, disrupting daily life for its estimated three million residents.
The recent assaults also resulted in casualties, with one person killed and at least two wounded when a residential building was hit. In response, President Zelensky called for enhanced sanctions against countries supplying components for Russia's advanced jet-powered drones, urging a political will to halt their production at the source.
Zelensky reiterated his calls for increased Western military support, including Patriot missile interceptors. Ukraine also confirmed the combat use of its FP-7 tactical ballistic missile for the first time.
