Russian strikes on Kyiv bridges cause traffic chaos in new disruption tactic

A damaged residential building in Kyiv (Evgeniy Maloletka/AP)

Russian aerial attacks have forced the partial closure of three bridges over the Dnipro River in Kyiv, the Ukrainian capital’s mayor said, in Moscow’s latest effort to disrupt life in the city.

The Russian strikes forcing the full or partial closure of three of Kyiv’s six road bridges caused traffic jams and appeared to be a new tactic in its campaign to torment the city’s residents.

Previously, Russia has hit apartment blocks, supermarket warehouses, filling stations and data centres, among other targets, in an escalation of attacks.

Meanwhile, Ukraine’s top diplomat said officials have received separate proposals for a partial truce with Russia from the US, India, Turkey and Egypt.

The proposals envision halting attacks on energy infrastructure, which have caused fuel shortages in Russia and power outages in Ukraine, and on Black Sea shipping needed to get vital grain exports to world markets.

The aerial war has intensified in recent months as fighting along the roughly 770-mile front line snaking through northern, eastern and southern Ukraine became virtually deadlocked.

Russia invaded its neighbour more than four years ago and there are no concrete signs that a peace settlement might be possible.

However, Ukraine has this year made some progress against Russia’s bigger army, according to the Institute for the Study of War.

Russian forces lost control over almost 116 square miles between March and September, the Washington-based think tank said in a report late on Thursday.

It added that the Russian military suffered more than 46,000 casualties in September, the highest monthly number this year. It did not say how many Ukrainian troops were killed or wounded.

Russia fired more than 100 drones at Ukraine overnight, striking Kyiv and eight other regions, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said. Almost half of the drones were the jet-powered type that are especially hard to stop, he added.

A drone hit a high-rise apartment block in Kyiv, killing one person, he said. At least four people were reported wounded elsewhere.

Mr Zelensky repeated his appeal for foreign countries to close loopholes in international sanctions on Russia and to add more restrictions on its trade. He said Russia’s drones and missiles are “critically dependent” on foreign components.

“Every Russian drone can actually be stopped right at the production line,” Mr Zelenskyy said.

Ukraine has also bombarded Russia with the long-range drones and missiles it now produces, aiming at military manufacturing plants and oil refineries.

The Russian Defence Ministry said on Friday that its air defences overnight downed 646 Ukrainian drones over Russian regions, occupied Crimea, the Sea of Azov and the Black Sea.

One person was wounded in an attack targeting “industrial infrastructure” in Russia’s south-western Volgograd region, governor Andrei Bocharov said.

Ukraine’s foreign minister Andrii Sybiha said the partial truce proposals presented to Kyiv by four countries were the first time India had offered to play a role.

New Delhi is trying to balance its ties with Russia against its growing partnerships with the US and other western powers. A new US sanctions package on Russia could impose up to 100% tariffs on India as a major importer of Russian oil.

Mr Sybiha said Kyiv is ready to accept a ceasefire if it stops Russian attacks on Ukraine’s power grid — as well as Ukrainian strikes on Russian oil refineries — and on cargo vessels exporting grain and other farm products through the Black Sea.

“We are ready for an energy and Black Sea ceasefire, but only in that combination. Energy and a ceasefire in the Black Sea,” he told reporters.

He repeated Ukraine’s offer of an unconditional ceasefire on the front line, but Moscow has rejected that, saying a comprehensive peace deal must be agreed rather than a temporary truce.

Mr Sybiha said Ukraine is requesting 300 Patriot missiles from partner countries because intelligence services estimate that Russia is holding 600 ballistic missiles in reserve and can produce up to 140 per month.

The US-made Patriot air defence systems can effectively defend against ballistic missiles, which fly fast and drop steeply, but they are in short supply due to the Iran war.

Ukraine urgently needs funding to contract future drone production, so there are no gaps in supply at the beginning of next year, Mr Sybiha said.

Kyiv faces a projected budget deficit of roughly £20 billion this year, although the European Union has promised to help meet its financial requirements and strengthen its defence.

Russia is also facing economic and financial challenges due to high military spending and debt.