Russia conducts massive military drills as strikes hit Kyiv bridge

Russian President Vladimir Putin inspected the final stages of the Center-2026 strategic military exercises at the Chebarkul training ground in the Ural region. The drills, involving over 47,000 personnel, included military units from Belarus, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, China, Mongolia, and Pakistan. The exercises focused on command coordination and repelling external attacks, utilizing new military equipment such as jet-powered Geran UAVs.

Simultaneously, Russian forces launched strikes against strategic infrastructure in Ukraine. In Kyiv, high-speed jet-powered Geran UAVs equipped with penetrative warheads targeted the South Bridge over the Dnipro River. The strikes caused significant explosions and fires, leading authorities to declare a state of emergency and blockade the bridge. This has disrupted major transport routes and metro services, forcing traffic to divert to other river crossings.

These military activities occur amid heightened tensions between Russia and NATO, particularly regarding the Kaliningrad region. Moscow has previously warned of potential nuclear weapon use to defend its territory if attacked.