---
title: "Russia May Have Used New 40-Kg Warhead to Strike Southern Bridge, ISW Says"
description: "According to ISW, a new 40-kg shaped-charge warhead on Geran drones may have been used in an attack on Kyiv's Southern Bridge, aimed at destroying critical infrastructure."
date: 2026-10-02T07:20:01.000Z
lang: en
url: https://xab.info/en/posts/russia-may-have-used-new-40-kg-warhead-southern-bridge-isw
tags: [isw, ukraine-war, kyiv, infrastructure, drones]
publisher: "XAB.info"
---

# Russia May Have Used New 40-Kg Warhead to Strike Southern Bridge, ISW Says

![View of the Southern Bridge in Kyiv following a drone attack](https://xab.info/media/2026/10/02/rf-mogla-ispolzovat-novuyu-boegolovku-dlya-udara-po-yuzhnomu-mostu/rf-mogla-ispolzovat-novuyu-boegolovku-dlya-udara-po-yuzhnomu-mostu-1.webp)

## 🎯 Key Points

- ISW reports the potential use of a 40-kg cumulative charge on Geran drones.
- Key Kyiv crossings, including the Southern Bridge and Paton Bridge, became targets of the attacks.
- Experts hold conflicting views on whether the new munition targeted bridges or power lines.

Russian forces continue to strike Ukraine's critical transport and energy infrastructure by employing new technological solutions. According to the Institute for the Study of War (ISW), recent attacks on Kyiv may have featured a long-range drone equipped with a powerful shaped-charge (cumulative) warhead designed to penetrate heavily reinforced concrete and steel structures. ### Context of Strikes and Infrastructure Targets

ISW analysts emphasize that the strikes on the Southern Bridge in Kyiv aim to undermine the Ukrainian economy, cause logistical turmoil in the capital, and demoralize the population. Military observers note the adversary's attempts to methodically target the same crossing sections to maximize cumulative damage. The night attack on October 2, 2026, resulted in the emergency closure of both the Southern Bridge and the Paton Bridge, paralyzing conventional routes for millions of residents.

### Contradictory Data

Despite reports regarding the deployment of innovative weaponry, opinions regarding the exact purpose and type of ammunition vary. Serhii Beskrestnov (“Flash”), an advisor to the Ukrainian president on defense technologies, reported the use of a 40-kg shaped-charge warhead on Geran jet drones intended to destroy power pylons and steel bridge girders. Meanwhile, Russian military bloggers diverge in their claims: some argue the strike on the bridge utilized this exact new modification, while others insist the new warhead was tested exclusively on power transmission lines.

### Technical Features and Consequences

A shaped-charge warhead differs fundamentally from conventional high-explosive munitions by focusing blast energy into a focused jet. This effectively pierces hardened steel and thick concrete, inflicting severe structural damage on bridges, armored vehicles, fortifications, and reinforced power lines. Experts note that if such technological adaptations of UAVs are verified, the Russian military will possess a tool for precision destruction of infrastructure that previously remained relatively resilient to standard drone raids.

## 🔍 Fact-Check Verification

- [РФ могла использовать новую 40-килограммовую боеголовку для удара по Южному мосту, - ISW](https://www.rbc.ua/ukr/news/rf-mogla-vikoristati-novu-40-kilogramovu-1790925362.html) - Опубликован детальный отчет института ISW и заявление советника Сергея Бескрестнова.
- [Новые «усатые» БПЛА рвут мосты в Киеве: на что способны «Герани», главные цели](https://news.ru/russia/novye-usatye-bpla-rvut-mosty-v-kieve-na-chto-sposobny-gerani-glavnye-celi) - Отражены мнения российских военных блогеров о применении новых модификаций БПЛА.

## ❓ FAQ

### Q: Which Kyiv object was targeted by the drone strikes?
**A:** Strikes were recorded at the Southern Bridge and the Paton Bridge, after which traffic across them was temporarily blocked.

### Q: What is the feature of the new warhead on Geran drones?
**A:** According to experts, it is a 40-kg shaped charge that focuses explosion energy to pierce steel and concrete structures.