Russian missiles struck Kyiv in the early hours of Saturday, damaging a major bridge across the Dnipro River and hitting energy facilities across the capital region, just three days before US-brokered talks between Ukraine and Russia open in Abu Dhabi.
Mayor Vitali Klitschko said ballistic missiles hit infrastructure around the capital from around 1am, with debris striking a five-storey apartment building in a western district and damaging the facade of another residential building. A building housing a kindergarten was also damaged. Five people were injured, including a 14-year-old child, and two of the injured were taken to hospital.
Northern Bridge Closed After Direct Hit
The Northern Bridge, which links eastern and western Kyiv across the Dnipro, was damaged in the attack and closed to traffic in both directions. Missiles damaged the roadway, trolleybus lines and a power line on the crossing, and specialists were assessing the extent of the damage.
It is the second of Kyiv’s six road bridges over the Dnipro to come under attack in recent weeks. Since early October, Russian forces have struck the Southern and Northern bridges eight times, as Moscow steps up pressure on river crossings and power infrastructure.
Energy Grid Under Strain
Energy facilities in the Kyiv and Zhytomyr regions were damaged in the overnight attack, disrupting heating and water supply in the capital. Klitschko described the situation with the capital’s energy supply as extremely difficult.
Russia’s defence ministry said its forces hit targets in Ukraine’s military-industrial sector and energy and transport infrastructure, and claimed strikes on a power plant, an electricity substation and a munitions manufacturing facility in the Kyiv region. It also claimed a hit on an electricity substation in the Zhytomyr region and on a cargo vessel in the Black Sea that it said was carrying military equipment and dual-use goods to Ukraine.
Moscow also claimed its missiles hit the Meridian plant in Kyiv, which it says produces Flamingo cruise missiles. Those claims have not been independently verified.
| Target | Reported impact |
|---|---|
| Northern Bridge, Kyiv | Damaged, closed in both directions |
| Energy facilities, Kyiv region | Power plant and substation damaged |
| Substation, Zhytomyr region | Damaged |
| Meridian plant, Kyiv | Russia claims hit; unverified |
| Cargo vessel, Black Sea | Russia claims hit; unverified |
| Casualties | 5 injured, including a 14-year-old child; 2 hospitalised |
Strikes Land Days Before Abu Dhabi Talks
The attack came three days before US-led talks including Ukrainian and Russian negotiators open in Abu Dhabi on November 10-11, the first such meeting since February. US envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner are expected to lead the American delegation, with discussions set to cover post-war security arrangements, de-escalation and humanitarian steps.
President Donald Trump said on Friday he had held phone calls about ending the war and would hold more on Saturday. He said Russia and Ukraine wanted to settle for the first time, and described a possible agreement as a very big settlement that could involve all of Europe. He did not say whom he had spoken to.
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy had warned on Friday that Russia was preparing new attacks on energy targets, bridges and other infrastructure. Officials in Kyiv continued to warn residents of further strikes hours after the overnight attack.
