October 8, 2026

British military analyst Hamish de Bretton-Gordon, writing in The Telegraph, has warned that Russian President Vladimir Putin is preparing to intensify attacks on Ukraine’s capital, Kyiv, in an attempt to compensate for the difficulties Russian forces are facing on the Donbas front.

The Return of “General Armageddon”?

According to the author, Putin has brought back General Sergei Surovikin, known as “General Armageddon,” whose name became associated with Russia’s bombing campaigns in Syria and Ukraine.

Kyiv’s Seven Bridges Under Threat!

The analysis warns that Russia could target all seven bridges spanning the Dnipro River in Kyiv, aiming to sever connections between the two sides of the capital and paralyze transportation and supply routes across northern Ukraine.

The threat is not entirely theoretical. Kyiv’s southern and northern bridges have reportedly been struck by Russian attacks in recent days, resulting in road closures and widespread traffic disruptions.

Why Escalate Now?

De Bretton-Gordon argues that Moscow is facing three simultaneous challenges:

▪️ Difficulty achieving decisive breakthroughs in Donbas.

▪️ Rising military casualties and growing difficulties recruiting new troops.

▪️ The approaching winter, which could make attacks on electricity grids and transportation networks even more disruptive to everyday life.

In his assessment, the Kremlin may seek to exhaust Ukrainian society and increase political pressure on Kyiv’s leadership by targeting critical infrastructure.

Military Analysis:

Moscow may be preparing to shift a greater share of its military pressure away from the front lines and deeper into Ukrainian territory.

Disabling bridges and power facilities could disrupt economic activity and military supply lines, but it would also carry enormous humanitarian consequences for millions of civilians.

The Bottom Line:

Kyiv faces the threat of a new war of attrition targeting its vital transportation and energy infrastructure as winter approaches.

However, claims that Russia has issued orders to destroy all seven bridges, or that Surovikin has been specifically assigned this mission, remain part of the author's assessment rather than an officially confirmed military plan.