Russian drones strike major bridge and school in kyiv

Russian drones struck a major bridge in kyiv, the Ukrainian capital, on Thursday October 1. This is the first major attack reported by authorities on one of the main bridges in Ukraine's capital since the start of the large-scale Russian invasion launched in February 2022. Videos shared on social networks and not authenticated by AFP show an explosion shaking the deck of a bridge at the foot of a pylon supporting the structure's cables.

“Two drone strikes hit the support area of ​​the South Bridge. Public transport traffic, metro and surface, on the bridge is now interrupted,” Kiev Mayor Vitali Klitschko announced on Telegram, adding that engineers “are inspecting the condition of the structure”. This road bridge is one of two in the capital that supports a metro line. kyiv and its transport network stretch across both banks of the Dnieper. This bombing comes as Russia, in its final days, is intensifying its deadly attacks against civilian infrastructure, particularly logistics and communications, in kyiv and its surroundings.

kyiv school hit by Russian drone

On Wednesday, a Russian drone also struck the compound of a research institute in kyiv with a small "research" nuclear reactor dating from the Soviet era, without damaging the device, the State Administration for Nuclear Regulation announced on Thursday. “The reactor and its “safety” systems were not damaged” and no increase in radioactivity was detected, assured this structure. The reactor has been shut down since the Russian invasion began in February 2022 and uranium had been removed from its core, the administration said. However, maintenance operations on its security systems are still carried out, she said.

Since the start of the Russian invasion in 2022, kyiv has feared attacks against its bridges, infrastructure essential to the capital's logistics. Moscow also attacks many other civilian infrastructures, day and night. A Russian drone hit a school in kyiv on Thursday, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky announced. “Fortunately, the children and teachers were in the shelter during the air strike, so no one was injured,” he said.