Russia launched a large scale overnight missile and drone attack across Ukraine, damaging a major bridge in the capital, Kyiv and disrupting public transport, according to Ukrainian officials and media reports.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Russia launched 16 ballistic missiles and more than 280 drones during the attack. He described the strikes as a serious escalation targeting Ukraine’s logistics and critical infrastructure.
Kyiv’s South Bridge Damaged
- Kyiv’s South Bridge, also known as the Pivdennyi Bridge, was damaged during the overnight attack. Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko said the bridge was closed to traffic in both directions while specialists assessed the extent of the damage.
- The attack also disrupted metro services on part of the city’s Green Line, with trains temporarily halted between Osokorky and Chervonyi Khutir stations. Authorities had not announced a confirmed reopening time in the initial reports.
Ukrainian Air Defences Intercept Targets
- According to Ukraine’s Air Force, Russia launched ballistic missiles and approximately 280 attack and decoy drones from multiple locations, including Russian territory and Russian occupied areas.
- By 9 a.m. on October 27, Ukrainian air defences had reportedly shot down or suppressed 257 aerial targets, including two ballistic missiles and 255 drones, according to preliminary military figures.
- However, some drones remained airborne when the initial figures were reported. Ukrainian authorities also reported strikes at 25 locations, while debris from intercepted aerial targets fell at another 16 sites.
Casualties and Damage Reported
- The overnight attacks caused casualties and damage in Kyiv and other parts of Ukraine. Ukrainian media reported that one woman had been killed and 21 people injured in Kyiv. Casualty figures may change as authorities continue their assessments.
- Other regions, including Chernihiv, Dnipro, Donetsk, Kharkiv, Kherson, Odesa and Zaporizhzhia, were also affected by the wider Russian attack, according to reports.
Zelenskyy Warns of Escalation
- Zelenskyy described the attacks as a serious escalation and highlighted the threat to Ukraine’s logistics and critical infrastructure. Damage to the South Bridge has raised concerns about transport disruption in the capital, although the full extent of the damage and its longer term impact remained under assessment.
- The latest strikes come amid continuing hostilities between Russia and Ukraine, despite separate diplomatic and humanitarian efforts.
Source: Ukrainian Air Force, Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Ukrainian media reports.
Editorial note: Casualty figures and damage assessments are based on preliminary reporting and may be updated as further official information becomes available.
