KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — On Saturday, recent Russian assaults led to at least six fatalities and significant damage to Kyiv's Northern Bridge, causing prolonged traffic disruptions for a third consecutive day. This latest offensive aims to continue undermining life in the Ukrainian capital.
The attacks followed two days during which Russian forces forced the full or partial closure of three out of Kyiv's six road bridges over the Dnipro River. Over the course of the conflict, Russia has targeted various civilian infrastructures, including apartment complexes, supermarket warehouses, gas stations, and data centers.
In a statement, Russia's Foreign Ministry reiterated its intent to carry out "mass retaliatory strikes" on Kyiv and other cities in Ukraine. They urged foreign personnel and diplomats to evacuate promptly, a warning echoed previously in May.
Despite the escalations, both sides remain locked in a stalemate, with fighting ongoing along the approximately 1,250-kilometer (780-mile) front line that traverses northern, eastern, and southern Ukraine. Mayor Vitalii Klitschko of Kyiv reported that the strike on the bridge compromised the road surface and trolleybus cables, necessitating a traffic suspension. He confirmed that two individuals were injured, with one requiring temporary hospitalization.
Russia's Defense Ministry later acknowledged responsibility for the attack, claiming the bridge serves as a critical link for troop movements and logistical support for Ukraine's armed forces. Eyewitness footage posted on social media captured the moment of impact, with videos containing recordings from drivers' dashcams as they crossed the bridge during the assault.
The aerial conflict has intensified, with Kyiv targeting Russia's oil infrastructure while Moscow retaliates with challenging-to-intercept ballistic missiles and jet-powered drones against Ukrainian urban centers. Moldovan President Maia Sandu expressed serious concerns over the conflict encroaching upon her country's border, citing recent airspace violations.
In her remarks on social media, Sandu condemned the morning of the attack on Ukraine, highlighting that five Russian missiles and drones had crossed into Moldovan airspace and exploded within its territory, putting lives at risk across Europe. She emphasized the urgent need to halt Moscow’s aggression.
Ukraine's Air Force reported instances of Banderol cruise missiles being launched overnight by Moscow, targeting the Odesa region, which shares a lengthy land border with Moldova. Designed to loiter over designated areas, these low-cost, jet-powered munitions are utilized by Russia to overwhelm Ukrainian air defenses.
Over the weekend, hostilities escalated beyond Kyiv, as Russian drone and missile attacks on Kharkiv, Ukraine's second-largest city, resulted in five fatalities and over 40 injuries, according to regional head Oleh Syniehubov. Additionally, drone strikes in Izyum injured three people after one drone struck an industrial warehouse while another damaged several residential homes.
In the Odesa region, known for its strategic Black Sea ports, a civilian cargo ship was hit by Russian forces, killing one sailor and injuring three others. The ship was reportedly registered under a Liberian flag. In contrast, Ukrainian drone strikes in the Russian-occupied Luhansk region reportedly killed two civilians and injured two others, as claimed by the Kremlin-installed regional head Leonid Pasechkin.
On the Russian side, drone assaults from Ukraine led to casualties in the Belgorod region, where a civilian was killed, and two others were wounded in proximity to the border.
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The Associated Press
