Russian drone hits kyiv’s southern bridge for third time in one day, disrupting ukraine traffic

A Russian drone struck Kyiv’s Southern Bridge for the third time in one day, damaging parts of the major Dnipro River crossing and disrupting road and metro services in Ukraine’s capital.

Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko said the latest drone hit the bridge late Thursday, damaging a bridge support, the roadway, a crash barrier and a protective concrete barrier along the metro line. Emergency crews were sent to the scene after the strike.

The repeated attacks caused major transportation disruption in Kyiv as authorities restricted movement across several bridges connecting the eastern and western sides of the city.

Three Drone Impacts in One Day

The latest strike followed two earlier Russian drone impacts near the Southern Bridge's support structures on Thursday.

During one of the earlier attacks, a blast wave sent dust into a metro carriage through its ventilation system while a train was crossing the bridge. The train remained intact, and no passengers or crew members were reported injured.

The Southern Bridge, also known as the Pivdennyi Bridge, is a major cable-stayed crossing over the Dnipro River. It carries road traffic and also supports Kyiv Metro's Green Line, making it an important connection between the city's two banks.

Following an initial inspection, Ukrainian authorities said they had found no critical structural damage from the morning attack. Ground transportation was temporarily restored while specialists continued examining the metro infrastructure.

The later strike, however, caused additional reported damage to the bridge.

Traffic Chaos Across Kyiv

The attacks came as Russian aerial strikes affected several major crossings over the Dnipro.

By Friday, Kyiv authorities had imposed restrictions on multiple bridges, contributing to long traffic queues across the capital. Reuters reported that two bridges were closed while another had restricted movement, forcing commuters to seek alternative routes.

The Southern Bridge was completely closed to traffic, while restrictions were also placed on other crossings. Videos and reports from Kyiv showed long lines of cars and buses as traffic was redirected.

The disruption affected one of the city's key east-west transportation routes at a time when Kyiv was already facing repeated Russian drone and missile attacks.

Wider Russian Drone Attack Hits Kyiv

The bridge strikes were part of a broader Russian aerial attack across Ukraine.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Russia launched more than 100 drones overnight against Kyiv and eight other Ukrainian regions. He said almost half were jet-powered drones, which he described as particularly difficult for Ukrainian air defenses to intercept.

The attacks have added to growing pressure on Kyiv's infrastructure and civilian population as Russia continues its long-range aerial campaign.

Ukraine Calls for More Pressure on Russia

Zelenskyy again called on foreign governments to tighten sanctions against Russia, arguing that Russian drones and missiles depend heavily on components manufactured abroad.

He said stronger restrictions could target the supply chains supporting Russia's weapons production.

Ukraine has also continued carrying out long-range drone and missile strikes against Russian military and industrial targets.

On Thursday, Zelenskyy announced that Ukraine had used its domestically developed FP-7 tactical ballistic missile in combat for the first time.

He did not disclose the target or location of the reported launch. Reuters described the announcement as the first reported combat use of the Ukrainian-made missile.

Ceasefire Proposals Emerge

The bridge attacks came as Kyiv was also discussing proposals for limited ceasefires with Russia.

Ukraine's Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha said Kyiv had received separate proposals from the United States, India, Turkey and Egypt concerning a partial truce.

The proposals include stopping attacks on energy infrastructure and Black Sea shipping, areas that have become increasingly important in the conflict.

Sybiha said Ukraine was prepared to consider an energy and Black Sea ceasefire together. Kyiv has also continued calling for an unconditional ceasefire along the front line.

Moscow, however, has rejected a temporary ceasefire proposal and has argued that a broader peace agreement should be reached instead.

A New Challenge for Kyiv

The repeated attacks on the Southern Bridge mark another form of disruption to daily life in Kyiv.

Rather than targeting only residential or industrial sites, the strikes have affected a major transportation link used by road traffic and the city's metro system.

The latest attacks have therefore created a direct impact on movement across the capital, with commuters facing closures, diversions and heavy congestion.

Ukrainian authorities are continuing to assess the damage to the bridges and metro infrastructure while Kyiv remains under threat from further Russian drone and missile attacks.