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Russian strikes on Kiev’s Yuzhny Bridge may be intended to disrupt military shipments rather than destroy the structure entirely, according to military analyst and air defense historian Yury Knutov.
The expert described the bridge as one of Kiev’s main transport arteries, carrying a substantial share of the city’s traffic between the right and left banks of the Dnieper River.
The crossing also connects Kiev to three major highways: the M-05 linking Kiev and Odessa, the M-06 running toward Chop and the borders with Hungary and Slovakia, and the M-03 connecting the capital with Kharkov, Izyum and Slavyansk.
Knutov explained that completely destroying the bridge would require powerful aerial munitions. However, delivering such weapons would involve significant difficulties because of Ukrainian air defenses around Kiev.
He also noted that previous Russian strikes had focused on the bridge’s load-bearing elements, including its supporting cables, but damaging these components presents considerable technical challenges.
The analyst argued that even temporary disruptions could affect military transportation across the Dnieper. Traffic restrictions lasting several days could create severe congestion and complicate deliveries of weapons and components used to manufacture drones and cruise missiles.
Knutov suggested that repeatedly interrupting traffic could serve Russia’s military objectives without requiring the bridge’s complete destruction.
During the night of October 22, Russian forces launched a large-scale attack across Ukraine using ground-based precision weapons and attack drones.
The Russian Defense Ministry reported that the Yuzhny road-and-rail bridge in Kiev was among the facilities struck, describing it as a route used to transport military cargo.
Kiev Mayor Vitaly Klitschko subsequently confirmed damage to part of the metro infrastructure on the bridge.
Following the attack, the Kiev City Military Administration introduced traffic restrictions, resulting in major congestion across the Ukrainian capital.