Russia targets Kyiv bridges, raising fears of a logistical nightmare – NYT
Photo: Bridge in Kyiv (Getty Images)
Russia has stepped up attacks on Kyiv, focusing on bridges across the Dnipro River that connect the Ukrainian capital’s left and right banks. Such a strategy could lead to what has been described as a “logistical nightmare,” the New York Times reports.
The media outlet recalls that Russian strikes have repeatedly damaged crossings in recent days, creating serious problems for getting around the city.
On Saturday, October 3, a Russian strike damaged Kyiv’s North Bridge. According to Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko, the road surface and trolleybus wires were damaged.
Traffic across the bridge was initially halted, and two people were injured in the attack. Vehicle traffic was later restored.
This followed a series of attacks on the South Bridge. On Thursday and Friday, Russian drones struck the crossing several times, forcing authorities to close it to traffic.
Large traffic jams formed across the capital, while some people had to leave their cars and cross the bridge on foot.
The media outlet notes that several major bridges cross the Dnipro in Kyiv, connecting the city’s two sides. Motorists, public transportation, pedestrians, and railway and metro services use them.
As a result, damage to the bridges directly affects the daily lives of millions of residents of the capital.
According to the Washington Post, Russia’s current campaign against the bridges could be part of a broader effort to disrupt the normal functioning of Kyiv ahead of the winter period.
Overall, the attacks on Kyiv could weaken the structural integrity of the bridges and force authorities to close them for an indefinite period, rather than risk a collapse.
The result would be a logistical nightmare for Kyiv and the entire country, the New York Times writes.
The bridges in the capital help transport various food products and equipment across the Dnipro, which flows from north to south through Ukraine and divides the country in two. If the bridges were closed, there would be few alternatives.
Despite this, Moscow has said it will continue striking Kyiv and other Ukrainian cities, while the Russian Foreign Ministry separately called on foreigners and diplomats to leave the Ukrainian capital.
