World · Kyiv, Ukraine
Russian Drones Now Targeting Bridges in Kyiv
In brief
Russia has begun aiming jet-powered drones at the bridges that connect the two halves of Kyiv, NPR reported on Monday, an escalation after weeks of day-and-night attacks on the Ukrainian capital.
NPR’s correspondent in Kyiv reported that air-raid sirens and explosions have been heard roughly every four hours. The jet-powered drones fly fast and are hard for air defences to intercept. Earlier strikes hit warehouses holding food and medicine, data centres, factories and the National Academy of Sciences.
Kyiv is split by the Dnipro river, and at least six major bridges carry cars, buses, trolleybuses and the metro across it. NPR said Russia has repeatedly struck two of those bridges. Repair crews have so far fixed the damage, but traffic has often backed up, and residents told NPR they believe the aim is to make daily life in the capital harder.
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz visited Kyiv on Sunday. According to NPR, he said Germany would not be intimidated and pledged more than $1 billion in military aid that includes air-defence interceptors. German defence companies travelling with him also signed agreements. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is seeking more air-defence support ahead of winter.
Why it matters
Bridges are vital to transport, supplies and the metro in a city of millions. If strikes force longer closures, there are only a few alternative crossings, which could disrupt work, deliveries and emergency services as winter approaches.
Sources
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