War in Ukraine: Kyiv Paralyzed by Traffic Jams After Russian Strikes on Pivdenny Bridge

Ukraine's capital, Kyiv, experienced major traffic jams after Russian strikes targeted the Pivdenny Bridge, one of the structures connecting the two banks of the city, which are separated by the Dnipro River.

Kyiv has a population of roughly three million and relies on eight bridges to maintain traffic flow between its two banks. According to available information, these would be among the first large-scale attacks targeting a major bridge in the capital since the start of the Russian invasion in 2022, a scenario Ukrainian authorities had long feared.

Infrastructure Under Watch

Bridges are critical infrastructure for any major city, and when targeted, directly disrupt the movement of people and goods, in addition to raising safety concerns for users. The traffic paralysis seen in Kyiv illustrates the extent of the city's reliance on this limited number of crossings between its two banks.

Ukrainian authorities are closely monitoring the situation, as the war, now in its fifth year, continues to target infrastructure far from the front line. Residents of the capital have had to cope with significant disruptions to their daily commutes following the incident.

Developments in the situation, including the extent of the damage and any changes to the city's traffic capacity, are expected to continue being monitored in the coming hours.