Kyiv's river boat plan: Why it won't replace bridges this winter

Kyiv is considering river boats as an alternative to bridges amid Russian attacks, but experts say the plan is not viable this winter. The proposed vessels would carry only 100-150 passengers, far less than the 1.4 million daily river crossings by public transport. The boats could transport under 2,000 people daily on two proposed routes, compared to 10,000-15,000 passengers per hour on the Metro bridge alone. Navigation on the Dnipro is currently banned under martial law, requiring special permits from military authorities for daylight travel only. Experts cite organizational hurdles, including vessel inspections, crew shortages, and safety risks during air alerts, as boats on the river offer no shelter. A pilot route is realistically possible only by spring 2027.