Updated

Over October 2-4, Russian forces struck Kyiv's key bridges across the Dnipro River for the first time since the invasion began, hitting the South Bridge, the Northern Bridge and the Pivnichnyi Bridge multiple times, damaging roadways, trolleybus lines and injuring civilians. Russia's Foreign Ministry framed the strikes as retaliation for Ukrainian 'terrorist acts' and urged foreign diplomats to leave Kyiv, pledging to continue massive strikes; Moscow's military separately said it hit a Kyiv bridge and vessels in the Black Sea. Zelenskyy called the escalation a 'savage desire' by Russia and said Moscow struck first, while Kyiv is preparing pontoon crossings and considering a tunnel under the Dnipro as contingency measures. The EU and Ukraine pushed back strongly: EU Ambassador Katarína Mathernová condemned the bridge strikes and confirmed all 25 EU member state embassies would remain in Kyiv despite the threats, and the European Commission said the threats showed the Kremlin was 'losing its nerve.' Russia's Defence Ministry separately said it would intensify strikes on Ukrainian military and defense infrastructure following Zelenskyy's recent interview, deepening the standoff.