All metro and automobile traffic is now suspended across Kyiv's Pivdennyi bridge. Intensified Russian drone and missile strikes are "tearing Kyiv apart," warned Vitaliy Klitschko, the mayor of Ukraine's capital. He described the city as being in a "very dramatic situation" as Moscow targets its critical infrastructure, logistics, housing, and other key facilities.
Crisis Meeting
Klitschko's comments came after Kyiv's defense council held a crisis meeting following new Russian strikes on a key bridge that caused significant traffic chaos. The city's data centers have also been recently hit, leading to internet outages.
President Vladimir Putin earlier stated that Russia was acting in response to Ukraine's strikes on Russian energy facilities, despite the fact that it was Moscow that initiated such attacks. The latest Russian strikes have resulted in huge traffic jams across Kyiv.
“"We're talking about survival," Klitschko said during Friday's defense council meeting with Kyiv's top military, security, emergencies, and police officials. "Russia's aim was to sow panic," he emphasized, adding that the capital would "prevail - but only through the joint efforts of those who love it and care for it."
Impact on Infrastructure
The mayor spoke just hours after Kyiv's key Pivdennyi (Southern) bridge was struck in an overnight Russian drone attack. On Friday evening, it was hit again, marking the fourth strike in two days. The bridge serves as one of the main transport arteries across the Dnipro River, which divides the western and eastern parts of Kyiv. All metro and automobile traffic is now suspended across the bridge, causing major delays throughout the city. Restrictions are also in place on Kyiv's two other key bridges.
