Russian forces have developed a specialised combat unit for attack drones, designed to destroy the metal structures of bridges. Despite the considerable structural integrity of the capital’s bridges, such attacks could pose a serious threat. This was stated by Serhiy Beskrestnov, an adviser to the President of Ukraine on defence technologies, known as «Flash».
- Russia has developed a specialised munition designed to destroy the metal structures of bridges.
- The new ammunition could pose a threat to the crossings in Kyiv.
- Experts had previously inspected the bridges for structural integrity and confirmed that they had a structural safety margin.
Russia is upgrading its drones to carry out strikes on bridges
According to Beskrestnova, the Russian army has developed a special cumulative warhead designed to destroy metal structures. The expert noted that the enemy has already demonstrated the use of such weapons against infrastructure targets.
He warned of a potential danger to bridges in Kyiv, emphasising that even structures with a significant safety margin can sustain serious damage as a result of targeted attacks.
At the same time, Beskrestnov emphasised that conventional reinforced concrete bridges are difficult to destroy. As an example, he cited the Antonivsky Bridge in Kherson, which withstood numerous attacks over a long period of time.
Will Kyiv’s bridges withstand Russian attacks?
According to the adviser, Ukrainian experts have already assessed the stability of the capital’s bridges and confirmed that they have a safety margin.
A similar assessment had previously been made by a spokesperson for the Ukrainian Air Force Yuriy Ignat. Following Russian strikes on The South Bridge He emphasised that it is difficult to completely destroy such engineering structures.
At the same time, the extent of potential damage depends on the intensity of the attacks and the nature of the weapons used.
How Kyiv’s bridges will be protected from drones
Beskrestnov also commented on the installation of protective nets on the capital’s bridges. In his view, such structures can only provide limited protection and are not capable of countering all types of Russian weaponry, in particular ballistic missiles.
The expert described intercepting attack drones before they reach critical infrastructure as the most effective means of defence.
He emphasised that shooting down drones directly over built-up areas also poses a danger due to the risk of falling debris and the detonation of warheads.
The expert’s comments do not quite reflect reality, as anyone driving across the South Bridge can see those “safety nets” that have been put up merely for show.
