Paton Bridge: Official Denial of Fake Traffic Rules
The Kyiv City State Administration (KCSA) has formally refuted fabricated traffic regulations for the Yevhen Paton Bridge, which had been circulating on social media. The false information, presented in an infographic, was disseminated by Maksym Bakhmatov, head of the Desnianskyi District State Administration. The KCSA labeled the widely shared details as a hoax and urged residents to rely solely on official announcements from the KCSA and Kyiv's municipal enterprises.
Bridge Condition and Legal Consequences
According to Bakhmatov's claims, the bridge has been in an emergency state since 2015. Strict traffic limitations are indeed enforced on the Paton Bridge. These include a ban on freight transport, as well as the installation of water-filled barriers prohibiting vehicles from using the outer lanes of the roadway. Specialists from the municipal company Kyivavtoshliakhmist conduct round-the-clock monitoring of the bridge, which is now 72 years old.
Furthermore, last year's scheduled inspection by the V.M. Shymanovskyi Institute of Steel Structures documented new, concerning findings. Academician Viacheslav Bohdanov also confirmed the bridge has been in a state of emergency since 2017. Spreading false rumors, like those that were circulated, carries administrative liability under Article 173-1 of the Code of Administrative Offenses. Penalties can include:
- A fine ranging from 10 to 15 non-taxable minimum incomes of citizens;
- Corrective labor for up to one month with a 20% deduction from earnings.
Consequently, the Kyiv City State Administration calls on citizens to be vigilant about the information they encounter and to use only official sources. The Paton Bridge is a critical river crossing in the Ukrainian capital, making accurate public information about its status essential. This incident highlights the broader challenge of misinformation in a modern media landscape, where falsehoods can undermine public safety and trust in authorities. Given the bridge's precarious condition, Kyiv residents must exercise particular caution and adhere to official guidelines to avoid potential dangers. Authorities continue to monitor the situation, and citizens are advised to depend on verified sources of information to avoid falling for disinformation.