Russian strikes on Kyiv bridges cause traffic chaos; Latvia votes Saturday
Russia has struck Kyiv's bridges across the Dnipro for a second straight day, causing long traffic jams, while two people were killed in a bomb strike on Kharkiv. Latvians vote in a parliamentary election on Saturday expected to keep pro-Ukraine PM Andris Kulbergs in power.
Kyiv has faced a wave of Russian strikes on bridges linking the two banks of the Dnipro River since Thursday. An evening drone strike on Friday hit the already-closed Southern Bridge, the latest in a series of attacks that have fully or partially suspended traffic across it and two other bridges. Long traffic jams have formed across the city during morning and evening hours. An economic analyst noted that around 500,000 people commute daily from the Dnipro's left bank to the right bank.
Ahead of the latest strike, Kyiv mayor Vitali Klitschko convened a city security council meeting, describing the situation as "very dramatic." A senior Ukrainian official said the attacks on bridges and other key infrastructure appear linked to an order Vladimir Putin issued in September removing constraints on Russia's air campaign.
Earlier Friday, a Russian drone strike sparked a fire on the upper floors of an apartment building, killing one person and injuring two others. In Kharkiv, Ukraine's second-largest city, a guided bomb strike killed two people and wounded 32, according to the regional governor.
Investment and humanitarian concerns
The joint US-Ukrainian reconstruction investment fund has completed its first critical minerals deal along with four other new projects, bringing its total holdings to about $70m. The minerals deal would direct roughly $30m into a joint venture with BGV Group, founded by businessman Hennadii Butkevych.
European Commissioner Hadja Lahbib said Russia must provide humanitarian aid to civilians in the Russian-occupied town of Oleshky, describing conditions there as "appalling," with residents trapped under siege without reliable access to food, medicine or clean water.
Meanwhile, Latvians go to the polls on Saturday in a parliamentary election expected to keep pro-Ukraine incumbent prime minister Andris Kulbergs in power, though deep political fragmentation could complicate forming a government. Polls put his centrist United List at around 14%, narrowly ahead of the openly pro-Russian Sovereign Power party.
