Zelensky Warns Russia Seeks to Split Ukraine via Dnipro Bridge Strikes
President Zelensky warns Europe that Russia plans sustained attacks on Dnipro bridges to split Ukraine. EU activates emergency funding as talks loom.
POLICY WIRE — Kyiv, Ukraine — President Volodymyr Zelenskyy cautioned European allies on Friday that Moscow is preparing an intensive campaign to shatter Ukraine’s unity.
Intelligence indicates Russian forces intend to launch sustained attacks on bridges spanning the Dnipro River, a move designed to physically cut the country in half.
Zelenskyy detailed these risks to EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, explaining that the strikes aim to disrupt critical transport networks.
The warning came amid a broader escalation in which Russian strikes have left consumers in half of Ukraine’s oblasts without electricity.
The European Union agreed to trigger a special emergency mechanism to accelerate funding for Ukraine’s urgent infrastructure needs.
This financial support targets severe strain in Kyiv, Dnipro, Sumy, Donetsk, and Kherson, where utilities have been heavily damaged.
Zelenskyy characterized Moscow’s approach as a new doctrine targeting civilian sites to pressure residents into abandoning cities.
Just one day before US-brokered talks scheduled for Tuesday in Abu Dhabi, both nations traded long-range aerial attacks.
The renewed exchange of fire highlights the volatile backdrop against which diplomatic officials hope to negotiate potential territorial changes.
Reporting by Policy-Wire (PW)