Nighttime Russian Strikes Paralyze Kyiv's Lifeline and Disable Northern Bridge

Intense nighttime Russian strikes caused severe damage to vital energy facilities in the Kyiv and Zhytomyr regions, as well as a strategic bridge in the Ukrainian capital, resulting in injuries and widespread disruption of essential services, according to Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko on Saturday.

Klitschko announced on "Telegram" that the vital "Northern Bridge" was closed in both directions following damage from the attack, noting that experts continue to assess the extent of structural damage. He confirmed that the electricity supply situation has become extremely difficult, which directly and negatively impacted central heating systems and water pumping operations for residents of the capital.

According to local media, the strikes resulted in five injuries in the capital, including a 14-year-old boy, coinciding with fires breaking out in the Solomianskyi district that affected residential homes and a kindergarten.

Additionally, three people were injured in the city of Pavlograd, including an 11-year-old girl, while the city of Chernihiv plunged into total darkness due to a complete power outage, leading to paralysis and suspension of electric transport there, according to the city council.

The Ukrainian capital, Kyiv, suffered an intense ballistic strike during which Russia launched eight "RM-48U" missiles via two "S-400" air defense systems, precisely targeting the same location on the left bank of the Dnipro River, amid indications of additional waves of strikes after midnight.

In a related context, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy revealed in his evening address intelligence warnings indicating Russia's preparation to launch new large-scale attacks, identifying two main categories of expected targets: energy infrastructure facilities and vital bridges spanning the Dnipro River, which are lifelines whose disruption paralyzes transport movement and threatens essential services relied upon by millions of civilians.

Zelenskyy affirmed the readiness of the Air Force and military formations to counter imminent threats, issuing an urgent appeal to citizens to take sirens seriously and immediately head to shelters, especially given the likelihood of missile attacks after midnight, stressing that alerts are not merely formalities.

The Ukrainian President appealed to allies and international partners to urgently deliver "Patriot" interceptor missiles, emphasizing in a decisive message that "every day makes a difference," as air defense crews cannot repel Russian ballistic missiles relying on delayed promises and munitions that have not yet reached the battlefield.