[Regnum] Kyiv authorities intend to build new combined water crossings across the Dnieper River. This was announced by Vitali Klitschko, the mayor of the Ukrainian capital, on October 27.
According to him, the issue of constructing crossings and access roads to them was discussed at a meeting of the city's Defense Council. The project is estimated to cost 1 billion hryvnias (approximately $21.8 million). The government has adopted a corresponding resolution.
"The city, on the government's recommendation, will find the funds—1 billion hryvnias—for this project," Klitschko wrote on Telegram.
The Kyiv mayor clarified that the military command will determine the specific locations for the new crossings, and the Kyiv City Military Administration will subsequently coordinate and approve the locations.
Earlier, Klitschko reported a strike on the Southern Bridge across the Dnieper. He also noted that on the evening of October 26, the strike damaged certain sections of the metro line. The Syretsko-Pecherskaya (green) line of the Kyiv metro runs across the Southern Bridge. The bridge is part of the E40 highway and serves as the shortest route from central Kyiv to Boryspil Airport.
On October 22, major traffic jams formed in Kyiv on the approaches to the Southern Bridge over the Dnieper River due to traffic restrictions. Earlier that day, the Russian Ministry of Defense reported that Russian forces had struck the Southern Road and Rail Bridge, which was used for transporting military cargo by road and rail.
Representatives of the pro-Russian underground had previously reported serious logistical problems in Kyiv due to damaged bridges. They also noted that it would be impossible to quickly restore the crossings, and further strikes could complicate the supply of the Ukrainian Armed Forces.