Gerasimov Tells Putin Russian Forces Are Targeting Ukraine’s Bridges, Railways, Data Centers

Gerasimov told Vladimir Putin that Russian forces were targeting bridges of strategic importance, railway transport facilities, and data centers supporting Ukraine’s Armed Forces. He also confirmed large attacks against the country’s energy infrastructure. These systems connect military units, cities, supplies, and information networks.

The article describes attacks on data centers operated by DATAGROUP, MiroHost, and UTELS between Sept. 23 and 25. Other communications infrastructure was hit, leaving hundreds of thousands of people without internet access. Since Oct. 1, Russian drones repeatedly struck Kyiv’s South Bridge and later its North Bridge. A new bridge in Zaporizhzhia was also targeted.

The attacks therefore extend beyond factories and military positions. Power plants, bridges, rail facilities, data centers, and telecommunications networks can all affect Ukraine’s ability to move, communicate, coordinate, and maintain essential services. Gerasimov said the campaign would continue alongside strikes on the military-industrial complex.

Strategic bridges are crossings whose location makes them important for moving people, equipment, or supplies. Railway facilities include tracks, stations, yards, and related transport sites. Data centers are buildings that store and process digital information. In wartime, all three can support military operations and civilian services.

A bridge can carry traffic across a river or connect major parts of a city. Railways can move large quantities of equipment and supplies. Data centers can support communications, records, online services, and military information systems. The article links some targeted centers directly to the needs of Ukraine’s Armed Forces.

Their importance comes from dependence on connected systems. A damaged bridge may force detours or inspections. A disrupted railway can delay movement. A hit data center or communications network can disconnect users and organizations. The article reports hundreds of thousands without internet access and more than 600,000 without electricity after later attacks.

The reported disruption reached hundreds of thousands of internet users after attacks on Ukrainian data centers and other communications infrastructure. The article does not provide a precise internet-outage total. It does give a specific electricity figure: Russian attacks on power plants left more than 600,000 people without electricity.

For bridges, the article names three targeted structures. Since Oct. 1, Russian drones repeatedly hit Kyiv’s South, or Pivdennyi, Bridge, and later the North Bridge. A new bridge in Zaporizhzhia was also targeted. The article does not state that all three were destroyed; it describes closures, inspections, and repairs.

These figures show disruption across both public life and wartime systems. Internet outages can isolate users and organizations. Electricity losses affect homes and essential services. Bridge attacks can paralyze traffic without eliminating a crossing permanently. The stated totals are therefore measures of immediate disruption, not a complete count of infrastructure damage.

Repeated strikes create disruption by making a bridge unsafe or requiring authorities to inspect it. Traffic is then stopped or diverted while repairs take place. This can produce long delays even if the bridge remains physically usable after each attack. The article describes this as Russia’s “small cuts” approach.

Kyiv’s South Bridge was repeatedly hit from Oct. 1, followed by attacks on the North Bridge. The closures paralyzed traffic across the capital. According to AFU Major Artem Bilyk, the aim was to force closures for inspections and repairs rather than destroy the bridges outright. That keeps pressure on the network through repeated interruptions.

The effect can spread beyond commuters. Detours consume time and may slow emergency responses, deliveries, and troop or equipment movement. Railways can face similar delays when facilities are attacked. The article presents bridge disruption as part of a wider campaign against transport, communications, energy, and military-support systems.

Ukraine’s armed forces depend on networks that move people and equipment, transmit information, and provide power. Bridges and railways connect routes for supplies and military movement. Data centers and telecommunications systems support information exchange and coordination. Power plants supply the electricity needed by command, communications, and industrial facilities.

The article gives direct examples. Russian strikes hit data centers operated by DATAGROUP, MiroHost, and UTELS, and other communications infrastructure, leaving hundreds of thousands without internet access. Attacks on Kyiv bridges disrupted traffic. Strikes on power plants later left more than 600,000 people without electricity. Gerasimov said some data centers were used to support Ukraine’s Armed Forces.

Disrupting one system can burden others. A bridge closure can delay deliveries. A communications outage can hinder coordination. A power loss can reduce the availability of digital systems. The article frames these attacks as part of a continued campaign against Ukraine’s military-industrial complex and wider support infrastructure.

The “small cuts” approach means repeatedly striking an important bridge so it must close for safety checks or repairs. The goal is disruption over time, not necessarily one decisive blow. Each attack can create a new interruption while leaving the structure standing.

AFU Major Artem Bilyk used the phrase to describe attacks on Kyiv’s bridges. Since Oct. 1, Russian drones repeatedly hit the South Bridge and later the North Bridge. These strikes forced closures and paralyzed traffic across Kyiv. A new bridge in Zaporizhzhia was also targeted. The article contrasts this pattern with destroying a bridge outright.

This method can make a transport network unreliable. Authorities must repeatedly inspect and repair the crossing. Drivers face closures and detours, while military movement and deliveries may be delayed. The article also mentions “double-tap” strikes, in which a second attack hits while rescuers are responding, adding danger to the disruption.

Modern military activity depends on systems that connect many tasks. Transport networks move personnel and equipment. Electricity powers facilities and communications. Telecommunications carry messages. Computing networks store, process, and distribute information. Because civilian and military systems often share infrastructure, an attack on one network can affect several functions at once.

The article shows this interconnection through specific incidents. Data-center attacks left hundreds of thousands without internet access, while strikes on power plants left more than 600,000 without electricity. Bridge closures paralyzed traffic across Kyiv. Gerasimov said targeted data centers supported the needs of Ukraine’s Armed Forces.

The result is cumulative pressure rather than one isolated failure. Delayed transport can affect supplies. Communications outages can hinder coordination. Power cuts can reduce the availability of digital systems and essential services. The article indicates that Russia plans to sustain large-scale strikes on Ukraine’s military-industrial complex, while infrastructure attacks continue to shape daily and military life.