Macron condemns Russian strikes on Ukrainian infrastructure as drones hit Kyiv bridges

Diplomatic response and air defense talks

French President Emmanuel Macron spoke by phone with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on 5 October to discuss European defense support against Russian aerial attacks. Macron condemned Moscow for expanding strikes against civilian targets and infrastructure, calling the move a violation of international humanitarian law. During the call, the two leaders reviewed measures to assist Ukraine in intercepting drones. Macron stated that France and the European Union would uphold their commitments and would not yield to intimidation or escalation from Moscow. The discussions followed a visit to Kyiv on 4 October by German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, who pledged additional financial assistance after Russia warned foreigners and diplomats to leave the capital ahead of new airstrikes.

We will yield neither to intimidation nor to Russia's escalation.

Strikes on bridges and transport in Kyiv

Russian forces expanded drone operations against transport links in the capital, deploying new-generation jet drones against river crossings over the Dnipro. Russian drone strikes have targeted Kyiv bridges since 1 October, causing limited casualties with several people wounded. On the morning of 4 October, drone attacks struck the North Bridge, the Metro Bridge, and the South Bridge out of the eight main bridges in the city. An explosion on the North Bridge carved a crater that halted traffic in one lane heading from the left bank to the right bank. Traffic across the South Bridge was also partially restricted, causing long delays and congestion across the metropolitan public transport network.

Maritime attacks and Black Sea shipping

In maritime waters, two Russian drones struck a civilian vessel carrying corn in neutral waters near the coast of Romania on 5 October. The Turkish-owned cargo ship caught fire and sank, resulting in the deaths of two crew members, with Azerbaijani and Indian nationals among the crew on board. The naval strike follows an ongoing Russian blockade of Ukrainian Black Sea ports, which costs Ukraine roughly 1.5% of its gross domestic product. Alternative export corridors currently handle only 40% of normal agricultural export volumes. Ukrainian officials continue to request advanced air-defense systems from Western partners, expressing interest in producing Patriot missile systems under United States licence.

Economic strain and infrastructure damage

Aerial attacks have heavily targeted industrial assets, energy grids, and logistics networks across Ukraine since late summer. Large-scale strikes included roughly 800 drones launched over 24 hours on 12 and 13 September against western rail and fuel infrastructure, followed by nearly 190 missiles and drones targeting Kyiv on 29 and 30 September. Strikes with ballistic missiles in early September halted operations at three main operational steel mills, which accounted for 90% of national steel output and employed 15,000 workers. According to figures from the Financial Times, 2.1 million of the 5.0 million square metres of modern warehouse space in the country have been destroyed. Ukrainian Prime Minister Sergii Koretskyi estimated in September that the destructions would deprive the state of roughly $1.5 billion in tax revenues.

Russia wants to kill the Ukrainian economy and, by this means, break our resistance.