Kyiv prépare des traversées de secours face aux attaques contre ses ponts sur le Dniepr

Pourquoi c’est important

Les dégâts infligés aux ponts ont perturbé la circulation et imposé de nouveaux itinéraires au transport public. Les traversières alternatives seeks to preserve the movement of essential goods if the bridges are destroyed, but their dependence on exposed access roads and piers limits their reliability. The proposed Dnieper tunnel could address both military and civilian needs, although its multibillion-hryvnia cost and multi-year construction period prevent it from serving as an immediate response.

Ce qui s’est passé

Russia began attacking Kyiv’s bridges across the Dnieper in October, causing closures, traffic restrictions and major disruption to public transport. A missile strike on the Northern Bridge in the night of November 6–7 damaged its roadway and a power line, prompting authorities to close it in both directions and alter public transport routes. On November 6, a second lane opened on the Southern Bridge toward the right bank, while traffic in the opposite direction remained limited to one lane.

Ukraine is preparing alternative river crossings. Infrastructure and Restoration Minister Mykola Kalashnyk said the country plans 21 alternative bridge crossings, including eight new Dnieper crossings, with two expected to open by the end of February. Construction work has begun in Kyiv, and the city has allocated 1 billion hryvnias for combined crossings. Kalashnyk also estimated that reserve pontoon crossings with earth embankments could be built within three months and provide half the capacity of the current bridges.

Presidential adviser Serhii Beskrestnov warned that ferries and pontoon bridges would also be vulnerable to destruction. Their capacity depends on piers and approach roads exposed to Shahed drones and missiles, and even a single attack could disable a pontoon route. A tunnel beneath the Dniepr is also being considered, with foreign investment required because of its cost of tens of billions of hryvnias.

Ce qu’en disent les sources ukrainiennes

Ukrainian reporting emphasizes the vulnerability of Kyiv’s bridges, the resulting disruption to public transport and the need for alternative crossings. Official proposals include 21 alternative bridge crossings, eight planned Dnieper crossings, reserve pontoon routes and a tunnel. At the same time, Ukrainian officials caution that ferries and pontoon bridges depend on vulnerable access infrastructure and could be disabled by drones, missiles or a single attack.

Contexte

The current alternatives have emerged from the disruption of Kyiv’s main Dnieper crossings. Russia began attacking the bridges in October, and the subsequent damage brought traffic restrictions and transport disruption. Alongside eight new crossings, reserve pontoon routes with earth embankments and a longer-term tunnel beneath the Dniepr are being considered.