Russia and Ukraine traded strikes over the weekend, with casualties reported on both sides. On October 3, Russia hit a second major bridge across the Dnipro River in Kyiv while pounding Ukraine's energy grid; Ukraine answered with drone strikes on Russian territory and Russian-occupied areas. At least five people have been killed in the latest exchange, according to various official reports.
Second bridge hit, Kyiv traffic disrupted
Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko announced that a Russian air attack struck the Northern Bridge across the Dnipro, damaging the road surface and overhead trolleybus cables and forcing the suspension of traffic from the east bank to the west bank. It is the second Kyiv bridge hit in days — the Southern Bridge was struck multiple times by Russian drones on Thursday and Friday, temporarily halting traffic across three of the river's crossings. The Dnipro splits Kyiv in two: before the 2022 invasion, about a third of the capital's three million residents lived on the east bank, while most government institutions and businesses are on the west bank.
Winter campaign's opening act: energy grid hammered
Reuters reported that Russia is launching a new wave of strikes on Ukraine's energy grid, forcing power cuts as winter approaches. UPI said Russian strikes on Kyiv energy facilities killed at least three people and injured five. Ukraine views the campaign as the opening act of an expected winter bombing offensive — last week Russia launched what Kyiv called the first salvo against power facilities supplying the capital. Russia has increased attacks on civilian infrastructure in recent months, increasingly deploying faster jet-powered long-range strike drones that are harder to shoot down. Moscow has also effectively blockaded Ukraine's Black Sea ports, attacking civilian vessels carrying grain and steel and dealing a heavy blow to the Ukrainian economy.
Ukrainian retaliation, casualties on the Russian side
Ukraine mounted its own long-range response. TASS reported that a Ukrainian attack on Russia's Belgorod region killed one person and injured two; Moscow-installed officials said Ukrainian strikes on the occupied Luhansk region killed two, and a drone attack on the occupied Zaporizhzhia region killed one and injured ten. Reuters said it could not independently verify the battlefield reports. Separately, five Russian missiles and drones exploded on Moldovan territory during the overnight attacks.
Moscow warns foreigners to leave Kyiv
Russia's Foreign Ministry on Saturday again warned diplomats and foreigners in Kyiv to leave the city or risk being harmed, though many foreign embassies remain in operation. The all-out war is in its fifth year with little sign of slowing: Russian battlefield gains have slowed to a near-record low while Ukrainian counterattacks, including one around the eastern town of Lyman, continue. With winter approaching, energy and bridges have become the new battlefield.