Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has called on international allies to strengthen sanctions against Russia after overnight drone attacks damaged key bridges in Kyiv and caused severe traffic congestion across the capital.
Russian drone strikes forced the closure of Kyiv’s Southern Bridge and Paton Bridge in both directions, while the Metro Bridge was partially closed. The disruption left thousands of motorists and public transport users stranded as residents struggled to cross the Dnipro River.
Zelenskyy said Iranian-made Shahed-type drones struck the Southern Bridge several times. Ukrainian authorities reported that one person was killed after Russia launched more than 100 drones across the country.
Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko said three bridges over the Dnipro River were partially closed because of the attacks, describing the situation in the capital as extremely serious.
“The capital is in a very dramatic situation,” Klitschko said, warning that Kyiv could no longer operate as though it were living in peacetime.
Commuters reported spending hours stuck in traffic, while some people abandoned vehicles and travelled on foot to reach their destinations.
Zelenskyy also urged countries to prevent Russia from obtaining foreign-made components used in the production of drones and missiles. He said supply chains for Russian weapons pass through Europe, the United States, China and Japan.
According to Zelenskyy, Russia remains dependent on foreign components despite efforts to increase domestic production of drones and missiles.
He called for stronger enforcement of sanctions, arguing that companies supplying components should prevent them from reaching Russia.
The European Union has previously said it was preparing additional measures to strengthen sanctions enforcement against Russia. US President Donald Trump also recently signed a new package of sanctions targeting Russia’s financial, energy and defence sectors.
More attacks across Ukraine
Russian attacks were also reported in several other parts of Ukraine. Zelenskyy said strikes hit a kindergarten in Kherson, a grocery store in Kharkiv and residential buildings in Kramatorsk and Sumy.
The Dnipro, Odesa, Kharkiv, Kyiv, Poltava and Rivne regions were also targeted, with at least four people reportedly wounded.
Russia’s Ministry of Defence said its drones struck a bridge over the Dnipro River, a power station, the Izmail port near Odesa and a cargo vessel. Moscow claimed the sites were being used for Ukrainian military purposes.
Ukraine also launched overnight drone attacks against targets inside Russia. Ukrainian authorities said a Lukoil facility in Volgograd and an oil dispatch station in the Samara region were hit, with fires reported at both locations.
Ukrainian forces also targeted airfields, industrial facilities and other sites in several Russian regions, including areas around the Black Sea.
Russian authorities in the Black Sea port of Tuapse said a local enterprise was damaged by drone debris but did not provide further details.
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