The acting head of the Zaporizhzhia Regional Military Administration, Mykhailo Semykin, announced that temporary traffic closures on bridges and the DniproHES dam are possible in the city for security reasons. According to RBC-Ukraine, he stated this on his Telegram channel. The Regional Military Administration emphasizes that it understands the inconvenience these restrictions cause for drivers and passengers, but public safety is named as the top priority in the current circumstances.
Reasons for the warning: infrastructure attacks
The warning about potential closures comes amidst attacks on the city's transport infrastructure. According to UNIAN, the Russian army struck one of the bridges across the Dnipro River in Zaporizhzhia; due to the aftermath of the attack, traffic across the crossing was temporarily halted. The acting head of the regional administration also confirmed that people were injured as a result of the morning strike: initially, reports mentioned two hospitalized men aged 43 and 54, but the number was later updated to five, including women aged 24 and 59 and a 36-year-old man. According to Semykin, two of the victims were Red Cross employees who were commuting to work during the attack. Separately, the regional administration recalled that on November 13, a five-story residential building in Zaporizhzhia was struck, resulting in at least four injuries, including two children.
Recommendations for drivers and residents
Residents are asked to plan their trips in advance, taking potential restrictions into account, and to avoid congregating near bridges. If traffic is closed, drivers must use bypass routes and strictly follow police instructions. Special emphasis is placed on behavior during air raid alerts: Semykin urged people not to stay near bridges or other high-risk objects, to stop their vehicles in a safe place, and to proceed to the nearest shelter.
Changes in traffic organization at DniproHES
At the same time, discussions are underway in Zaporizhzhia regarding changing the traffic organization over the DniproHES dam by introducing reversible traffic. Under this regime, the direction of most lanes would change depending on road congestion and traffic volume. This solution, according to the authorities, should help relieve pressure on the crossing and reduce risks when traffic could be interrupted at any moment.
Wider context: attacks on bridges
The situation in Zaporizhzhia fits into a broader context of attempts to strike bridge infrastructure in Ukrainian cities. As noted by UNIAN, there has been a recent increase in drone attacks on bridges, including in Kyiv. Against this backdrop, the temporary closure of crossings in Zaporizhzhia is being viewed by authorities as a preventive measure aimed at protecting citizens from the potential impact of follow-up strikes.
