Overnight Russian Strikes Cripple a Vital Kyiv Route and Close Northern Bridge
Intense overnight Russian strikes severely damaged critical energy facilities in the Kyiv and Zhytomyr regions, along with a strategic bridge in the Ukrainian capital. The attacks injured several people and caused widespread disruption to essential services, Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko said Saturday.
Writing on Telegram, Klitschko announced that the Northern Bridge had been closed in both directions after sustaining damage in the attack. Specialists were continuing to assess the extent of structural damage. He described the electricity supply situation as extremely difficult, directly affecting district heating and water pumping for the capital’s residents.
Local media reported that five people were injured in Kyiv, including a 14-year-old boy. Fires also broke out in the Solomianskyi district, affecting residential properties and a kindergarten.
Three people were injured in Pavlohrad, including an 11-year-old girl. Meanwhile, Chernihiv was plunged into darkness by a complete power outage, bringing electric public transport to a halt, according to the city council.
Kyiv also came under an intense ballistic missile attack in which Russia fired eight RM-48U missiles from two S-400 air defence systems, precisely targeting the same location on the Dnipro River’s left bank. There were indications that another wave of strikes could follow after midnight.
In his evening address, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky disclosed intelligence warnings that Russia was preparing further large-scale attacks. He identified two main categories of potential targets: energy infrastructure and vital bridges across the Dnipro. Disruption to these critical links could paralyse transport and threaten essential services relied upon by millions of civilians.
Zelensky said the air force and military formations were ready to respond to the imminent threats. He urgently called on residents to take air-raid sirens extremely seriously and seek shelter immediately, particularly given the likelihood of missile attacks after midnight. He stressed that the warnings were not a formality.
The Ukrainian president also urged international allies and partners to expedite deliveries of Patriot interceptor missiles without delay. “Every day makes a difference,” he emphasised, saying air defence crews could not repel Russian ballistic missiles with deferred promises and ammunition that had yet to reach the battlefield.
