Southern Bridge after the strike: how to cross the Dnipro in Kyiv now

What happened

After Russia’s ballistic missile attack on Kyiv on 27 October, traffic on the Southern Bridge — one of the city’s main Dnipro crossings, which also carries the green metro line — has been restricted while experts assess the damage. In his evening address, President Volodymyr Zelensky said that since 14 October alone Russia has fired more than 100 ballistic missiles at Kyiv and the surrounding region, and pointed to delays in deliveries of Patriot missiles. “It is important that the whole world sees this, that our partners see this,” he said, calling on the Pentagon to grant the necessary permits for deliveries.

For the millions of Kyiv residents who cross the river every day, this means new routes and longer journeys. Here is what is known as of the morning of 28 October.

Detours for cars and trucks

Under the scheme published in the capital (reported by UNIAN), cars coming from the left bank are advised to take Bazhana Avenue and then the Dniprovska embankment to the Darnytskyi or Paton bridge. Trucks are being directed along Staroboryspilska, Boryspilska and Pryvokzalna streets to the Darnytskyi Bridge. Bus routes No. 22 and No. 91 are temporarily running via the Darnytskyi Bridge.

Allow extra time: traffic on the remaining bridges will be heavier at peak hours.

Metro: the green line split in two

Kyiv Metro has restored service on the green line between Osokorky and Chervonyi Khutir, and between Syrets and Vydubychi. However, trains across the Southern Bridge remain suspended. Passengers travelling between the banks will have to combine the metro with surface transport or commuter trains.

Extra commuter trains

Ukrzaliznytsia has scheduled 16 additional Kyiv City Express services for 27–30 October, NV reports. The trains run in a half-ring from Vydubychi via the Darnytskyi and Pivnichnyi bridges to Pochaina station, with intervals from 15 minutes at peak times. According to the outlet, extra morning services start from 28 October.

A cap on taxi prices

Prime Minister Serhii Koretskyi announced a memorandum with taxi operators: during air raid alerts, suspensions of public transport or the metro, or other logistics emergencies — such as the one after the attack on the Southern Bridge — fares may rise by no more than 75% above the base rate. “If the base fare from point A to point B is, say, 200 hryvnias, the maximum will be 350 hryvnias,” he explained. The cap will apply for at least two hours after a red-level alert ends or until normal transport and bridge traffic resume. The government says it will monitor compliance.

₴1bn for river crossings

Following a meeting of Kyiv’s Defence Council, Mayor Vitali Klitschko said the capital, on the government’s recommendation, will find 1 billion hryvnias to build combined water crossings over the Dnipro and access roads to them. Their locations will be determined by the military command. The council also discussed additional technical solutions to protect bridge structures and the installation of mobile shelters.

Advice for the coming days

Check the official channels of the city administration, Kyiv Metro and Ukrzaliznytsia before setting off: traffic arrangements may change depending on the results of the bridge inspection and the security situation. If possible, travel outside peak hours or agree remote work with your employer.