Bridges under fire: Kyiv City Express adds 18 shuttles between the banks on 5–9 October

What is changing

From Monday, 5 October, to Friday, 9 October, Kyiv City Express — Ukrzaliznytsia’s urban rail service — is adding 18 extra shuttle runs on the Vydubychi — Darnytsia — Vydubychi route, the service announced on its official Telegram channel, as reported by Ukrinform.

“We are scheduling 18 additional shuttle runs… so that you can get to work, run errands or return home quickly and without traffic jams while traffic across Kyiv’s bridges is difficult,” the announcement said.

Timetable and boarding

• When: at the busiest times — 06:00–09:00 and 16:00–21:00.
• Vydubychi: boarding and alighting on track 3.
• Darnytsia: track 1 or 2.
• Intermediate stop: the extra runs will stop at Bereznyaky station.
• Tickets: in the Ukrzaliznytsia app; routes can be planned on the official Kyiv City Express website.

Other options

Besides the shuttles, passengers can cross between the right and left banks on scheduled suburban and regional trains to and from Nizhyn, Hrebinka, Konotop or Slavutych. They make mandatory stops at Vydubychi and Darnytsia, and suburban trains also stop at Bereznyaky.

“Thanks to the combination of extra shuttles and scheduled trains with KCE trains, up to 6 runs between the banks will operate at peak hours, so you won’t have to wait long for the next train,” the operator promised.

Why now

In recent days Russian drones have been attacking Kyiv’s Southern and Northern bridges, forcing changes to public transport and making car traffic harder. Analysts at the US-based Institute for the Study of War (ISW) counted seven strikes on the two bridges between 1 and 4 October and assess them as an attempt to disrupt the capital’s economy and daily life.

According to Ukrinform, Kyiv plans to start building several backup crossings over the Dnipro next week, to be used if the bridges are damaged. A tunnel under the river is also being considered in the longer term.

What is happening on the bridges

On Sunday, 4 October, alone, a Russian drone hit the roadway of the Northern Bridge. Two people were injured: one was hospitalised and the other treated at the scene, Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko said (via Ukrinform). The day before, on 3 October, two people were also injured in a strike on the same bridge. The city administration later said buses No. 21, 73, 101 and 114 had resumed running across the Northern Bridge on their usual routes, but with delays.

Practical tips

If you cross the Dnipro every day, check the timetable in the Ukrzaliznytsia app in advance and expect platforms to be busier than usual at peak hours. Rail bridges depend less on road congestion, so the train is now one of the most predictable ways to get between the left and right banks. During air-raid alerts, follow the operator’s announcements on train movements and the city’s official channels.

Why it matters

Kyiv is a city on two banks, and for many residents crossing the Dnipro is a daily necessity. Strikes on bridges hit not so much concrete as the city’s normal rhythm: work, school, access to hospitals. Extra trains are a quick response that requires no construction: the railway already has tracks across the river and can add runs within days. How much it helps will become clear this week: the extra runs are scheduled for 5–9 October for now.