Kyiv Bridges Hit: Drones Spark Chaos

Kyiv experienced significant traffic disruptions on Friday following a new wave of Russian drone attacks. The Southern Bridge, a major crossing over the Dnipro River, was completely closed to all traffic after sustaining damage to its support structures. Other bridges, including the Paton Bridge, faced restrictions, leading to extensive traffic jams and forcing many to seek alternative transport or travel on foot.

These strikes compounded the daily challenges faced by Kyiv's residents, who have endured near-constant aerial bombardments in recent months. The attacks have increasingly targeted infrastructure, including transportation networks and energy facilities, impacting daily life and the economy. President Volodymyr Zelensky reiterated calls for stronger international sanctions, specifically targeting the foreign components critical for Russia's production of advanced drones, urging a halt to their manufacturing at the source.

Beyond infrastructure damage, the drone attacks resulted in casualties, with one person killed and at least two injured when a residential building was hit in southeastern Kyiv. Ukraine's military also reported striking oil refineries in southwestern Russia, aiming to disrupt fuel supplies to Russian forces. Meanwhile, Kyiv dismissed reports of potential grounding for its F-16 fighter jets, though President Zelensky acknowledged many were undergoing lengthy maintenance in Europe.