Kyiv bridge hit in further drone attack as German chancellor makes surprise visit

For context, a major bridge in Kyiv has been targeted by Russian strikes for the second day in a row, coinciding with a surprise visit from German Chancellor Friedrich Merz's to the city.

Key points

• The first Russian strike on the Northern Bridge took place on Saturday, injuring two individuals and damaging the road surface and overhead trolleybus wires, Klitschko stated.
• The Pivdennyi and Pivnichnyi bridges throughout the Dnipro River link the western and eastern parts of the capital and had not been hit before Thursday.
• Klitschko documented the strike on Telegram, writing: Hitting the roadway on the North Bridge.
• Just days before, the Pivdennyi (Southern) Bridge was hit multiple times by Russian drones.
• Earlier attacks on the Pivdennyi Bridge prompted Kyiv's defence council to hold a crisis session on Friday.

Meanwhile, the Pivnichnyi (Northern) Bridge was hit on Sunday morning, a day after it was first struck by drones in an attack that damaged the road surface and led to traffic disruption.

Kyiv Major Vitali Klitschko remarked Sunday's strike had additionally damaged a heating main, adding that there would be a temporary lack of hot water in the north-eastern Desnyanskyi district consequently.

Major bridges have been targeted in Kyiv over the past four days as Moscow ramps up attacks on critical infrastructure in the capital.

Unverified video footage of Sunday's strike demonstrates cars moving on the bridge as a drone crashes into it before exploding, creating a ball of fire. A cloud of black smoke can be seen rising above the bridge.

Klitschko documented the strike on Telegram, writing: "Hitting the roadway on the North Bridge. Emergency services are on their way to the scene."

As emergency services responded to the incident, Germany's Merz reaffirmed his country's backing for Ukraine and pledged further assistance to bolster Ukrainian air defences.

He wrote on X: Ukraine is facing decisive weeks. That is why I travelled to Kyiv today with the message: You can rely on us.

"Germany's security additionally depends on the outcome of this war. That is why we are helping out of our own self-interest as well."

Meanwhile, the first Russian strike on the Northern Bridge took place on Saturday, injuring two individuals and damaging the road surface and overhead trolleybus wires, Klitschko stated.

Russia remarked its drones had hit the two bridges employed to transfer Ukrainian troops and military cargo. It additionally repeated a warning for foreign citizens, including diplomats, to leave Kyiv.

Notably, the Pivdennyi and Pivnichnyi bridges throughout the Dnipro River link the western and eastern parts of the capital and had not been hit before Thursday.

Klitschko cautioned that the city was now in a "very dramatic situation" as Moscow was battering its "critical infrastructure, logistics, housing" and other key facilities.

Experts say Russian drones are unlikely to bring down the bridges – but repeated attacks will force their closure and risk weakening their structure, making them unusable.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has remarked Russia is acting in response to Ukraine's strikes on Russian energy facilities, despite the fact that it was Moscow that had first rolled out such attacks. Russia introduced its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022.

For now, kyiv bridge hit in further drone attack as German chancellor makes surprise remains the part of the story worth watching, and further updates are likely as more details are confirmed.