- Category
- War in Ukraine
Drones Hit Key Russian Railway Bridge Over Don, Disrupting 25 Trains and Crimea Routes
Prefer U24 Media on Google
- Authors
![Photo of Ivan Khomenko]( "Photo of Ivan Khomenko")
Drones damaged a major railway bridge across the Don River in Russia’s Rostov-on-Don overnight on October 10, forcing railway authorities to suspend traffic in both directions and disrupting at least 25 passenger trains, including services connected to temporarily occupied Crimea.
We bring you stories from the ground. Your support keeps our team in the field.
According to Russia’s North Caucasus Railway on October 10, a drone attack damaged the railway drawbridge on the Rostov–Bataysk section, forcing the temporary closure of both tracks. Russian officials acknowledged the damage as a large-scale drone attack swept across the Rostov region.
The rail drawbridge in Rostov has been struck by a Ukrainian drone tonight. If disrupted while it is up, rail traffic cannot use it. If disrupted while down, the Don River is blocked to ships. pic.twitter.com/NTgbc8rQmB
— Woofers (@NotWoofers) October 10, 2026
The disruption initially delayed 14 long-distance passenger trains and two commuter services, with some departures running nearly four hours behind schedule. The number of affected long-distance trains later rose to 25, according to Russia’s Federal Passenger Company.
The delays affected major routes connecting Moscow, St. Petersburg, and other Russian cities with destinations in southern Russia, including Adler, Novorossiysk, Anapa, and Mineralnye Vody. Passengers facing delays exceeding four hours were provided with food and water.
The disruption also reached temporarily occupied Crimea. Russian railway operator Grand Service Express reported delays affecting its Tavria services traveling through the Rostov region, with some trains running up to three and a half hours behind schedule.
The bridge is an important railway crossing over the Don River, connecting Rostov-on-Don with routes extending farther south. Its location makes it a significant transport link between central Russia, the North Caucasus, and routes serving temporarily occupied Crimea.
Russian railway authorities reported that traffic across both tracks resumed at 7:49 a.m. local time. However, the disruption continued to affect schedules throughout the day. By the evening of October 10, 13 passenger trains were still running behind schedule, according to the Federal Passenger Company.
The full extent of the damage remains unclear. While monitoring channels reported possible damage to the bridge’s lifting mechanism, there has been no official confirmation that the mechanism was disabled.
Earlier, on October 6, the Ukrainian partisan movement ATESH reported that Russian authorities were urgently reinforcing key road and railway bridges across the Don River, fearing Ukrainian strikes. The measures reportedly included anti-drone defenses, electronic warfare systems, and preparations for alternative crossings in case critical transport links were damaged.
Discuss this article:
