Russian drone strikes target bridges and infrastructure in Kyiv

On October 1-2, 2026, Russian forces launched a series of intensive drone and missile strikes against Kyiv and Kharkiv, causing significant infrastructure damage and civilian casualties. In Kyiv, the Southern Bridge (Pivdennyi Bridge) was struck repeatedly over two days, forcing its closure alongside the Paton Bridge, which disrupted traffic across the Dnipro River. Mayor Vitali Klitschko reported that the strikes hit residential buildings, including a high-rise in the Darnytskyi district, resulting in at least one death and two injuries in the capital, while separate strikes in Kharkiv reportedly killed two others.

The Russian Ministry of Defense confirmed the operations, stating that strikes targeted bridges deemed essential for Ukrainian military logistics, as well as power substations and port infrastructure near Izmail. While officials in Kyiv described the situation as increasingly dramatic, emergency services continue rescue operations. These attacks mark the first time major Kyiv bridges have been targeted since the start of the conflict in 2022. Simultaneously, Ukrainian drones struck industrial facilities in Volgograd, Russia, causing fires at an oil refinery and injuring one person, as cross-border tensions escalate.