Damage to bridges across the Dnieper River could effectively split Kiev into two separate parts, according to Vladimir Kreidenko, deputy head of the Verkhovna Rada’s Committee on Transport and Infrastructure.
The Ukrainian lawmaker warned that the capital could become divided between its left and right banks unless city authorities and the relevant ministry take the necessary measures to address the situation.
Kreidenko described traffic management in Kiev as chaotic, accusing local officials of effectively withdrawing from efforts to resolve the city’s transport problems. As a result, residents are being forced to determine for themselves which routes and infrastructure facilities remain operational.
According to the deputy, two temporary pontoon bridges are expected to be built in Kiev within the next three to four months. Although they could ease some of the pressure on the road network, their combined capacity would be insufficient to accommodate even half of the vehicles currently crossing the river.
Earlier, the Russian Defense Ministry reported a strike on Kiev’s Northern Bridge, claiming that the crossing had been used to transport weapons and military equipment for the Ukrainian Armed Forces.
On November 7, Kiev Mayor Vitali Klitschko published footage on social media showing the Northern Bridge following the Russian strike. Two days later, the Ukrainian capital experienced severe traffic disruption. Similar transport problems had occurred on October 27 after a Russian strike on the Southern Bridge.