The key facts
- Traffic on the Northern Bridge in Kyiv is completely blocked in both directions after the overnight strike
- Klitschko reported damage to the road surface, trolleybus contact lines, a power line and five trucks
- Unlike the October incident, when traffic was maintained, the crossing is now fully closed
Damage to the crossing and traffic closure
Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko published a video of the Northern Bridge after the overnight strike: the footage shows holes in the road surface. According to him, several missiles hit the structure, damaging the road surface, the trolleybus overhead contact lines and a power transmission line, while the blast wave smashed five trucks parked near the bridge. This was reported by Life.ru.
Traffic fully halted
Traffic across the crossing is closed in both directions, with road and utility services working on site as specialists inspect the structures to assess the extent of the damage. No timeline for reopening traffic has been given. This marks a notable change compared with early October: back then, according to Life.ru, after the strikes the bridge saw kilometer-long traffic jams, with cars let through in small groups after waits of several hours, but traffic never stopped completely — now the crossing is closed entirely.
Statements by the Russian Defense Ministry and the power supply situation
The Russian Defense Ministry included the Northern Bridge in its list of targets for the overnight strike, claiming that the crossing was used to transfer weapons and equipment for the Ukrainian Armed Forces. The ministry also reported hitting military-industrial facilities and energy infrastructure, naming among them the Korolev Meridian enterprise in Kyiv, a powder metallurgy plant in Brovary, the Trypillya Thermal Power Plant, the 750 kV Kyivska substation and a 330 kV substation in Zhytomyr region, as well as a dry cargo ship southeast of Odesa which, according to the Defense Ministry, was carrying military property and dual-use goods. These claims are cited from the Russian military ministry.
Context of the strikes on energy infrastructure
Against the backdrop of the overnight attack, Klitschko said Kyiv's power supply situation was extremely difficult: heating and water supply systems in the city have been disrupted. Earlier, on November 4, Life.ru, citing the Defense Ministry, reported the strike on the Nalyvaikivka and Chyzhovka substations in Kyiv and Zhytomyr regions using drones. Regardless of the parties' statements, the confirmed fact remains the complete closure of the Northern Bridge and the absence of any stated timeline for its restoration.
