What We Know About Russian Strikes on Kyiv Bridges

Sun Oct 04 2026 17:23:52 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time)

Fast‑fact rundown: Russia’s latest drone attacks hit Kyiv’s bridges, fueled by a surprise German visit. Get the 60‑second snapshot now.

Russian drone strikes have targeted two of Kyiv’s major bridges over the last four days, with the Pivnichnyi Bridge hit again for a second consecutive day and the Pivdennyi Bridge struck multiple times earlier in the week. The latest assault coincided with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz’s tour of Kyiv, sparking international attention and raising concerns about infrastructure security. BBC Ukraine correspondent Dan Johnson is on the ground near one of the damaged bridges, explaining the situation and what we can expect next.

In the past four days, Russia has intensified drone and missile attacks on Ukraine’s crucial infrastructure in the capital, Kyiv, focusing on the city’s two main bridges that span the Dnipro River.

The Pivnichnyi (Northern) Bridge was hit again on the second day in a row, while the Pivdennyi (Southern) Bridge experienced a series of strikes earlier in the week. Both bridges are vital for traffic, trade and emergency services.

The latest attack came right after German Chancellor Friedrich Merz landed in Kyiv for a surprise visit, which drew global attention to the city’s safety and the war’s impact.

BBC’s Ukraine correspondent Dan Johnson has stood on the front line near one of the struck bridges to update viewers on what’s happening, what’s likely to happen next, and how the Ukrainian defence systems are responding.

🎯 Five quick facts you can watch in 60 seconds:

1️⃣ The Pivnichnyi Bridge was hit on two consecutive days.

2️⃣ The Pivdennyi Bridge suffered multiple strikes earlier this week.

3️⃣ German Chancellor Friedrich Merz’s visit coincided with the newest strike.

4️⃣ Russian drone technology is being used to target bridges to cripple traffic.

5️⃣ Ukraine’s forces are actively trying to intercept drones and support local crews on the bridges.

Want a deeper dive? Click the video below for a 60‑second summary that breaks the most important points into quick, visual bursts suitable for the SnapScope community.