Russian drones attack Pivdennyi Bridge in Kyiv, halting traffic, and strike Kyiv Institute for Nuclear Research
Illustrative photo
Russian drones attacked the Pivdennyi (South) Bridge in Kyiv on the afternoon of October 1, forcing authorities to suspend metro and ground public transport across the span while structural engineers inspect the bridge's integrity.
Kyiv Mayor Vitalii Klychko, 5 Channel, local Telegram channels, and municipal authorities reported the attack, according to Rubryka.
Klychko stated on social media that two enemy drones struck near the supporting structure of the Pivdennyi Bridge. Following the impacts, authorities halted all metro traffic and ground public transit across the bridge. Specialists from the municipal enterprise "Kyivavtoshliakhmist" are inspecting the structural condition of the facility.
A correspondent for 5 Channel, Mariana Marchenko, reported witnessing a Russian drone strike on the Pivdennyi Bridge while riding a metro train. According to the journalist, a passenger yelled "Shahed" shortly before an explosion echoed and ash fell through the train car's ventilation system.
Marchenko noted that passengers in her carriage escaped unharmed.
The train transported passengers to the Vydubychi station on the right bank before halting operations, where commuters transferred to another train running along the Green Line.
Local Telegram channels also reported two impacts against the columns of the Pivdennyi Bridge, asserting that Russian forces utilized Geran-5 drones in the attack. Mayor Klychko did not specify the exact drone model used.
Russian UAV strikes Institute for Nuclear Research
A day earlier, on September 30, a Russian drone struck the grounds of the Institute for Nuclear Research of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine in Kyiv, where the VVR-M research nuclear reactor is located. The reactor itself sustained no damage.
According to the Institute for Nuclear Research, the strike occurred on September 30, 2026, at 6:18 p.m. local time. The Russian UAV struck the institute's territory housing the VVR-M research reactor, triggering a fire that emergency crews quickly extinguished. No casualties occurred, and an investigation into the attack and structural damages remains ongoing.
The regulatory body confirmed that the research reactor and its safety-critical systems suffered no damage. Radiation levels surrounding the facility remain within natural baseline limits—ranging from 0.16 to 0.20 µSv/h—with no changes detected following the strike.
Scientists noted that, to mitigate radiation risks, the reactor has remained shut down with a completely unloaded core since February 2022. Operations remain strictly limited to routine maintenance of safety-critical systems. The VVR-M reactor serves as a neutron source for fundamental and applied research in nuclear physics.
Researchers emphasized that the drone strike against the institute represents an attack on a peaceful nuclear facility performing purely scientific functions. They characterized the strike as another violation by Russia of internationally recognized nuclear and radiation safety principles, as well as a war crime.
Background
Overnight on September 30, Russian forces launched a combined missile and drone strike against Kyiv using ballistic missiles and jet-powered drones, killing two people and injuring four others while causing fires across four city districts.
Overnight on October 1, Russian drone strikes again targeted Kyiv, igniting fires on the ground floor of a 16-story apartment building and parked vehicles in the Solomianskyi district, alongside a warehouse in the Obolonskyi district. Medics treated one injured civilian.
