A police officer assesses the damage after a Russian drone attack on the Northern Bridge in Kiev on October 4, 2026, during Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
Mykola Timchenko | AFP | Getty Images
Russia’s Ministry of Defense has vowed to step up military attacks on Kiev and other major Ukrainian cities after a second major bridge in the Ukrainian capital was attacked over the weekend.
The latest threat comes as the Russian military has stepped up attacks on Kiev in recent weeks, targeting data centres, communications facilities and energy infrastructure in a bid to disrupt daily life in the capital and force power outages ahead of winter.
On Saturday, a Russian drone attacked Kyiv’s vital Northern Bridge over the Dnipro River, damaging the road and forcing traffic disruptions. Kiev Mayor Vitali Klitschko said two people were injured in the attack.
The attack came shortly after German Chancellor Friedrich Merz arrived in Kiev to pledge 1 billion euros ($1.1 billion) in military aid to Ukraine, and after Russian drones repeatedly targeted Kiev’s southern bridge earlier this week.
Russia’s Ministry of Defense confirmed the attack on Northern Bridge in an update posted via Telegram on Sunday, saying the bridge “supports the movement of troops and the logistics of munitions.”
The ministry also responded to comments from Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy.
In an interview with Reuters, President Zelenskyy said in comments published on Saturday that Ukraine would double its attacks on Russian oil refineries in retaliation for a new air campaign aimed at forcing its people to abandon Kiev and other cities. Ukraine’s president said Russian civilians would not be targeted in the latest attack.
“In response to these threats, the Russian Ministry of Defense recalls that large-scale attacks were launched against Kiev and other Ukrainian regions, especially in retaliation for the actions of the leaders of the Kiev regime,” the Russian Ministry of Defense said on Telegram on Sunday, according to Google Translate.
The ministry said Zelenskyy “takes full personal and political responsibility” for the escalation of attacks.
peace negotiations
Russia launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine more than four-and-a-half years ago, and fighting on the front has effectively reached a stalemate as the conflict enters its fifth winter.
President Zelenskyy said on social media on Sunday that the Trump administration has proposed trilateral talks at a technical level by the end of October, adding that Ukraine is open to the United Arab Emirates or another country proposed by the US side to host the talks.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky welcomes German Chancellor Friedrich Merz (right, CDU) at a reception at the presidential palace.
Picture Alliance | Picture Alliance | Getty Images
“We are aware that they will also propose this to the Russian side, or may have already proposed it. We will wait for the response. We will respond positively to negotiations,” Zelenskiy said.
CNBC has contacted the White House press secretary and the Russian embassy in London and is awaiting a response.
US President Donald Trump previously urged Zelensky to stop targeting Russian refineries, saying the attacks were “hurting the world” as fuel supply disruptions continue to push up US diesel prices.
