Kyiv's mayor, Vitaliy Klitschko, stated that intensified Russian drone and missile strikes are severely damaging the city, describing the situation as "very dramatic." The remarks followed a crisis meeting of Kyiv's defense council after a Russian drone attack on the Pivdennyi bridge, which disrupted traffic and caused internet outages due to damage to data centers. Klitschko emphasized that the strikes are targeting critical infrastructure, logistics, and housing.
President Vladimir Putin claimed that Russia's actions are a response to Ukraine's strikes on Russian energy facilities, despite the initial attacks originating from Moscow. All traffic across the Pivdennyi bridge has been suspended, leading to significant delays in the city. The bridge is a vital transport route across the Dnipro River.
The state emergencies service reported one fatality from a strike on a residential building. President Volodymyr Zelensky stated that Russia's current strategy involves widespread attacks aimed at destroying essential services and infrastructure. Putin acknowledged the impact of Ukrainian attacks on Russian oil refineries, noting that Russia has experienced a 1% loss in GDP as a result.
Since the full-scale invasion began in 2022, Russia has consistently targeted Ukrainian energy infrastructure, particularly during winter months.