{"id":1448281,"date":"2026-10-05T10:45:03","date_gmt":"2026-10-05T07:45:03","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/prm.ua\/paralysis-or-intimidation-the-main-risks-and-consequences-of-russian-strikes-on-kyiv-bridges\/"},"modified":"2026-10-05T10:45:03","modified_gmt":"2026-10-05T07:45:03","slug":"paralysis-or-intimidation-the-main-risks-and-consequences-of-russian-strikes-on-kyiv-bridges","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/prm.ua\/en\/paralysis-or-intimidation-the-main-risks-and-consequences-of-russian-strikes-on-kyiv-bridges\/","title":{"rendered":"Paralysis or Intimidation? The Main Risks and Consequences of Russian Strikes on Kyiv Bridges"},"content":{"rendered":"

Since early October 2026, Russian troops have launched a systematic campaign of drone strikes against key bridges in Kyiv, attempting to disrupt transport links and create a logistical collapse between the right and left banks of the Dnieper.<\/strong><\/p>\n

It should be noted that the attacks on Kyiv’s bridges are not merely an attempt to impede communication between the two parts of the capital. They constitute a broader disruption of logistics\u2014both civilian and military.<\/p>\n

It’s not just a section of the city we’re talking about. We’re talking about disrupting all logistics\u2014both civilian and military. They don’t necessarily need to destroy the entire bridge. The question is, why did they choose the Southern Bridge in particular?\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

As a reminder, the enemy carried out at least four UAV strikes on it on October 1 and 2. The hits damaged the road surface, the bridge’s support structure, the barrier, and the protective concrete perimeter of the subway. Since October 2, the bridge has been completely closed to traffic and subway trains, causing serious traffic jams in the capitals.<\/p>\n

The South Bridge is supported by 144 stay cables. Each stay cable consists of two powerful galvanized cables with a diameter of 62 mm and a breaking strength of 350 tons.<\/p>\n

The enemy began using drones with shaped-charge cutting charges, specifically targeting metal elements. Video footage of the strikes shows that the UAVs were attempting to hit the cargo near the pylon’s support section.<\/p>\n

The cable-stayed structure of the Southern Bridge in Kyiv has a huge safety margin and is designed to withstand serious emergencies, so multiple drone strikes cannot cause an immediate collapse or a “domino effect.”<\/p>\n

Even if the supports and cables hold, the impact itself is enough to stop traffic. We’re seeing this now: bridges have practically stopped moving, and the traffic jams are insane.<\/p>\n

This is where another danger arises. After an attack, the bridge is closed for inspection and cleanup, and cars, buses, and trucks quickly accumulate on both sides. This creates huge, stationary columns that could themselves become the next target.<\/p>\n

The occupiers have already employed similar tactics in the Odesa region, where attacks targeted not only cargo but also civilian vehicles. For Kyiv, the consequences could be significantly greater due to the city’s size and the volume of traffic that crosses the Dnipro River daily.<\/p>\n

If people realize they could be attacked, who will travel? Even a few such attacks will create social tension. People will start leaving children at home, changing routes, and giving up travel.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The enemy, realizing that they cannot demolish the bridges, switches to the tactics of social terror\u2014terror against the civilian population with the aim of creating panic and distrust in the actions of central and local authorities.<\/p>\n

The ultimate goal of such a scenario is not so much a transport collapse as a disruption to the capital’s economic life. Kyiv is particularly vulnerable due to its geography: the Dnipro River divides the city into two large parts that are dependent on each other on a daily basis.<\/p>\n

It’s not just a city divided in half by the Dnieper. It’s also a de facto division of Ukraine into right-bank and left-bank parts. Therefore, the importance of bridges is critical.<\/p>\n

We need to analyze and provide information proactively, so that later it won’t be like, “We didn’t expect this.” We’ve seen this happen with enemy drones.<\/p>\n

Therefore, in the current situation, I would highlight three key risks at once.<\/p>\n

The first is damage to the bridge’s structural components, specifically the cable stays and metal supports. The main challenge is restoration. Such cable stays have never been produced in Ukraine; they were ordered abroad during construction. Quickly manufacturing and replacing such unique structures during wartime is extremely difficult.<\/p>\n

The second is the deliberate creation of traffic jams and large concentrations of civilian transport that could be exposed to enemy attacks.<\/p>\n

Third, there is a need to urgently strengthen both active and passive defense of key crossings.<\/p>\n

That’s why it’s wrong to talk solely about whether the Russians will demolish a specific bridge. Even a physically standing bridge could cease to perform its primary function\u2014connecting the two banks\u2014for a long time.<\/p>\n

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy noted that in response to these challenges, the Ministry of Defense and local authorities are already developing alternative logistics solutions, including embankment dams with pontoon bridges and tunnel projects under the Dnieper.<\/p>\n

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