Russian drone strikes shut Kyiv bridges and spark traffic gridlock

Russian drone strikes have forced the closure of key bridges in Kyiv, cutting off major transport links across the Dnipro River, killing one person, and causing widespread gridlock in the Ukrainian capital.

The targeted attacks on critical infrastructure over successive nights have severely disrupted daily life and logistics in Kyiv. In response, Ukrainian officials have renewed calls for Western allies to tighten international sanctions against Moscow, arguing that Russia is still sourcing foreign components to build its weapons.

What happened in Kyiv?

The aerial assault caused significant damage to both residential areas and transport networks. A Russian drone struck a 25-story residential building in the eastern Darnytskyi district, killing one person and injuring at least two others.

Meanwhile, the city’s transport network was thrown into chaos. Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko confirmed that the Southern Bridge—also known as the Pivdennyi Bridge—was "completely closed" to traffic after being hit twice over two days. The concrete-and-steel structure is a vital artery for the city, carrying both road vehicles and a metro rail line.

The Paton Bridge, another critical crossing, was also closed to traffic heading towards the Dnipro River's left bank. Because Kyiv is divided by the river, shutting these crossings effectively split the capital, creating severe traffic gridlock.

Russia’s Ministry of Defence claimed its drones had targeted a bridge over the Dnipro used for military purposes. Moscow also reported striking a power station in the wider Kyiv region, the Port of Izmail near the Black Sea, and a cargo vessel.

Ukraine's strikes inside Russia

The disruption in Kyiv occurred as Ukrainian forces launched their own extensive drone strikes targeting Russian industrial and energy infrastructure.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced that successful operations had been carried out over a 24-hour period across several Russian regions, including Samara, Volgograd, Voronezh, Nizhny Novgorod, and Krasnodar. Zelenskyy said the strikes targeted airfields, industrial facilities, oil refineries, an ammunition depot, and a missile and space centre.

In Russia’s southern Volgograd region, the local governor said Ukrainian drone strikes targeted industrial infrastructure and damaged an apartment building, leaving one person wounded. In the Krasnodar region, authorities reported that falling drone debris damaged an enterprise in the Black Sea port city of Tuapse.

The economic toll of these reciprocal strikes is mounting. Russian President Vladimir Putin acknowledged that the country has lost one per cent of its gross domestic product (GDP) because of Ukrainian attacks on its domestic oil and energy facilities.

The push for tighter sanctions

The latest assault on Kyiv has prompted a renewed diplomatic push from Ukraine for tougher global action. Ukrainian officials argue that despite existing trade restrictions, Moscow continues to bypass sanctions to import the microelectronics and high-tech parts needed to manufacture attack drones.

Kyiv is calling on its international partners to close these loopholes, arguing that stopping the supply of foreign components is the only way to permanently disable Russia’s long-range aerial capabilities and protect Ukrainian cities from daily bombardment.