Southern Bridge in Kyiv Closed After Night Attack: Detours and Resumption Plans

Traffic across the Southern Bridge in Kyiv has been temporarily blocked in both directions following a night attack that authorities report was carried out by Russian forces using ballistic missiles. This was announced citing a statement by Oleksiy Biloshytskyi, Head of the Patrol Police Department, on Telegram, and comments by KMVA press secretary Kateryna Pop during the national TV marathon. The bridge deck and the metro infrastructure located on it sustained damage, prompting a complete halt to traffic across the structure.

Current Status of the Bridge and Metro

Experts are currently inspecting the bridge deck to determine the nature and extent of the damage caused by the attack. Final conclusions are not yet available at the time of publication: a decision on resuming traffic will only be made after the inspection results are in. As KMVA spokeswoman Kateryna Pop explained, both full and partial reopening of the bridge are under consideration, while the exact date for resuming traffic has not yet been named—it will depend on expert conclusions and traffic safety assessments.

Restrictions on the Green Metro Line

Due to the aftermath of the attack, train services on the green line of the capital's metro have also been restricted. Currently, trains are only running between the Syrets and Vydubychi stations. According to Kateryna Pop, experts will also determine after inspecting the bridge whether metro traffic toward Kyiv's left bank can be resumed. The final decision will depend on specialist assessments of the structure's condition.

How to Detour the Closed Bridge

Ahead of the restrictions taking effect, police outlined alternative routes that vary depending on the type of vehicle. For trucks, the detour runs from the Boryspil Highway along Staroboryspilska Street, and then via Boryspilska and Pryvokzalna streets toward the Darnytsia Bridge. For passenger cars, the detour goes along Mykola Bazhan Avenue and the Dnipro Embankment toward the Darnytsia Bridge and the Paton Bridge.

Context: The Bridge Was Already Targeted in October

The Southern Bridge is not being targeted for the first time this month. According to open sources, the structure was hit by drones in early October, resulting in damage to a support pier, the guardrail, the road surface, and the protective concrete barrier of the metro line; traffic across the bridge was also suspended at that time. The night attack on October 27, according to authorities, involved ballistic missiles and caused a repeated full closure of the bridge in both directions.