Two Russian drones struck the Pivdennyi Bridge in Kyiv, one of the most important crossing points over the Dnieper River, temporarily halting metro service and causing alarm in the Ukrainian capital. The official version from local authorities says that, despite the strike, preliminary inspections found no critical damage to the bridge’s main structure.
Strike on one of Kyiv’s main arteries
The attack happened on Thursday morning, at a moment when a metro train was crossing the bridge. One of the drones struck the base of one of the central pillars, according to information released by the authorities and passenger accounts.
After the explosion, metro train traffic was temporarily suspended. A train that was on the bridge was directed to Vydubychi station, on the western bank of the Dnieper, while road traffic was later also allowed to resume.
Passengers reported an explosion and dust inside the carriages
Ukrainian journalist Mariana Mykytenko, who was on one of the trains, reported that passengers had heard warnings about a “Shahed” drone shortly before the explosion.
According to her, at the moment of impact a loud explosion was heard and dust entered the carriage through the ventilation system, adding to the panic among passengers.
Authorities play down damage to the bridge
After the attack, Kyiv authorities said initial assessments showed no critical damage to the bridge’s main structure. However, it is one of the capital’s most important links, making any such strike especially sensitive for movement and public safety.
The resumption of road traffic after preliminary checks was presented by officials as a sign that the damage had not affected the bridge’s basic functioning.
Another drone also struck a school in Kyiv
Earlier in the day, at around 09:00 local time, another drone crashed into the third floor of a school in Kyiv. More than 100 pupils were inside the building, but they had been moved to a shelter and no injuries were reported.
School principal Valentina Chorna said the building suffered damage, including the partial collapse of a wall.
Drone attacks are increasing
The latest strikes come at a time when, according to Ukrainian officials, Russia has increased its use of drones against the country’s infrastructure.
Officials have also warned about new drone models with jet engines, which move faster and could create additional difficulties for air defense systems.
The strike on the Pivdennyi Bridge and the attack on a school on the same day show that civilian targets and urban infrastructure remain under constant pressure in Kyiv.
Although Ukrainian authorities say there is no critical damage to the bridge, the immediate disruption to public transport shows how fragile the normal functioning of the capital remains in the face of drone attacks.