Russian drones strike Kyiv South Bridge and nuclear research site, halting metro transit

South Bridge strikes and transit shutdown

Two Russian drones struck the support structures of Kyiv's South Bridge on Thursday, forcing municipal authorities to halt traffic across the Dnipro River. The crossing connects the eastern and western districts of the capital, serving as a primary transit route for vehicular traffic and the municipal subway line. Mayor Vitali Klitschko announced the shutdown on Telegram as structural specialists deployed to evaluate the integrity of the span.

Two drone strikes hit the support area of the South Bridge. Public transport traffic, both metro and surface, across the bridge is now suspended.

Unverified video recordings circulated on social media showed an explosion shaking the bridge deck at the foundation of a pylon holding the suspension cables.

Strike on nuclear research grounds

The bridge attack followed a separate strike on Wednesday evening targeting the compound of the Institute for Nuclear Research in Kyiv. A Russian drone hit the facility grounds, igniting a localized fire that emergency crews contained. The State Nuclear Regulatory Inspectorate of Ukraine reported that the research reactor and its associated safety systems sustained no damage, with radiation readings remaining at normal background levels across the site.

The Soviet-built VVR-M research reactor operates at a thermal capacity of 10 megawatts and entered service in 1960. Technicians had defueled the core and placed the unit into cold shutdown following the Russian invasion in February 2022, though routine maintenance on safety mechanisms continues. The facility uses a design distinct from the RBMK reactors at the Chernobyl nuclear power plant in northern Ukraine.

Deployment of shaped-charge warheads

Ukrainian officials reported that Russian forces have begun employing specialized munitions against infrastructure targets in the capital. Serhiy Beskrestnov, an adviser to the Ukrainian presidency known by the call sign Flash, stated on Wednesday that Russian forces deployed a jet-powered drone equipped with a forward-focusing shaped-charge warhead.

Today, the enemy used a special shaped-charge warhead on a jet drone for the first time.

The shaped charge concentrates explosive energy directly forward to pierce and sever steel support elements. Beskrestnov stated that Russian forces likely intend to use such warhead configurations to sever high-voltage power transmission lines and structural steelwork across the country.

Strikes on education facilities and logistics

Russian drones also hit educational infrastructure in the capital during school hours on Thursday. One drone struck a Kyiv school building while classes were in session, though no casualties occurred among students or faculty. President Volodymyr Zelensky addressed the incident in a public statement.

Luckily, the children and teachers were in the shelter during the air alert, so nobody was hurt.

River crossings across the Dnipro have remained critical logistical arteries for Kyiv since Russian forces invaded in February 2022. Municipal engineers continue structural inspections on the South Bridge to determine when metro transit and road traffic can safely resume across the river.