Russia strikes second major bridge in Kyiv, mayor says

A Russian strike has hit a second major bridge in Kyiv, Mayor Vitali Klitschko has said, as Russia ramps up attacks on critical infrastructure in the Ukrainian capital.

The attack on Saturday morning damaged the road surface and trolleybus overhead wires on the Northern Bridge, Klitschko said.

The strike comes after another key bridge in the city, Southern Bridge, has been targeted multiple times by Russian drones since Thursday, with Klitschko earlier warning that such attacks were "tearing Kyiv apart".

The two bridges link the eastern and western parts of the capital and had not been hit before Thursday, signalling a new stage in Moscow's attacks.

Writing on Telegram on Saturday, Klitschko said: "Hitting the North Bridge. Emergency services are on their way."

"Traffic on the bridge from the left to the right bank is currently blocked," he added.

Earlier attacks on the Southern Bridge prompted Kyiv's defence council to hold a crisis meeting on Friday.

Following the meeting, Klitschko said the city was now in a "very dramatic situation" as Moscow was battering its "critical infrastructure, logistics, housing" and other key facilities.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has said Russia is acting in response to Ukraine's strikes on Russian energy facilities, despite the fact that it was Moscow that had first launched such attacks.

After the Southern Bridge was attacked on Thursday, passengers described how dust from a blast wave entered their carriage through the ventilation system.

Metro trains were suspended but road traffic was eventually allowed to resume.

Similar disruption continued on Friday following further strikes.