Ukraine Reports Russian Order to Destroy Bridges Over Dnipro River

Denis Yaroslavsky, commander of Ukraine’s 57th Motorized Brigade reports that the Russian command has issued an order to completely destroy key bridges across the Dnipro River. According to reports, Yaroslavsky said the aim was not only to disrupt Ukrainian military and civilian logistics but to make living conditions in the country’s largest cities unbearable. He suggested that Moscow was investigating potential weaponry, identifying vulnerable points and producing detailed operational plans.JOIN US ON TELEGRAMFollow our coverage of the war on the @Kyivpost_official. According to The Moscow Times, Russia’s Chief of the General Staff, Valery Gerasimov, told Russian President Vladimir Putin that the army was ready to attack Ukraine’s strategically important bridges. Russian forces have stepped-up strikes on Ukraine’s energy facilities as winter approaches and recently began striking bridges in Kyiv. On Oct. 1 and 2, Russia hit the capital’s South Bridge, then the North Bridge on Oct. 3 and 4 and again on Nov. 7. There were also strikes on a cable supported bridge in Zaporizhzhia on Oct. 6 and Dnipro city’s Central Bridge on Oct. 30. President Volodymyr Zelensky said on Nov. 9, following a meeting with Ukraine’s Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, Mykhailo Drapaty, that Russia was intending to divide Ukraine along the Dnipro River. “We discussed in detail the challenges due to the Russian operation against our bridges and energy grid – Russia is trying to divide Ukraine along the Dnipro and ruin people’s lives, the lives of our cities and villages, as much as possible,” Zelensky said. Other Topics of Interest Denmark Allocates €20M to Restore Kherson Region’s Power Supply The financial aid comes alongside a new €645 million ($721 million) Danish defense package focused on Ukrainian drones and F-16 ammunition. Can key bridges be destroyed? Ukraine’s Kommersant news site, citing Anna Minyukova – a bridge expert – said the bridges across the Dnipro River were designed to withstand significant loads, and that damage to individual elements was unlikely to bring a bridge down. However, strikes from ballistic missiles or multiple drone attacks could disrupt the crossings and thereby achieve Putin’s aim. That view was shared by transportation expert Dmitry Bespalov who said: “Bridges are usually destroyed not by missiles, but by explosives planted by sappers… We blew up bridges as part of our active defense in 2022… If you know where to plant the charge, you can make repairing the bridge completely uneconomical.” Belts and braces? The Censor.NET news site reported on Oct. 30 that alternatives to existing crossing points over the Dnipro River are already being constructed with plans to open the first bridges in early 2027. According to Ukraine’s Minister for Recovery and Infrastructure, Mykola Kalashnyk 21 alternative bridges are planned. He said that work in Kyiv has already begun with funding from central government. Kyiv Post is Ukraine’s first and oldest English news organization, reporting since 1995. Its international reach – 90% of readers are outside of Ukraine – make it truly Ukraine’s global voice.