Russia strikes Kyiv bridge as German chancellor visits Ukraine
A Russian drone hit Kyiv's Northern Bridge over the Dnipro, injuring two people, as German Chancellor Friedrich Merz made an unannounced visit to Ukraine to show support. It was the fourth consecutive day Russia targeted bridges in the capital.
Russian forces struck a major bridge in Kyiv for the fourth day running, hitting the capital's Northern Bridge over the Dnipro River while cars were crossing. Kyiv's mayor, Vitali Klitschko, said two people were injured when a jet-powered drone plunged into the roadway and exploded.
The strike came shortly after German Chancellor Friedrich Merz arrived in Kyiv on an unannounced visit meant to underline Germany's backing for Ukraine as the country enters one of the most precarious phases of the war. Since Merz took office in May 2025, Germany has become Ukraine's largest provider of military aid, overtaking the United States as American support has waned.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy told Merz that residents of Kyiv were enduring "terrible nights and days" because of relentless attacks, describing Russia as "absolute barbarians." Merz said the visit showed the pointlessness of the war and that Ukraine would need all the support it could get in the coming weeks, warning that if Russia is not stopped, its war machine would eventually turn against the rest of Europe.
Bridges under threat
Russia had previously damaged the Northern Bridge and repeatedly hit the Southern Bridge. Although the crossings remain standing, the repeated strikes and threat of further attacks have forced Kyiv authorities to restrict or suspend traffic on five of the city's six road bridges over the Dnipro, triggering closures and heavy traffic jams.
The bridge attacks are part of a wider Russian campaign against civilian and industrial infrastructure across Ukraine. Recent weeks have seen strikes on logistics hubs, railway lines, data centres, medical storage facilities and steel plants, alongside an intensifying assault on the energy grid expected to worsen over winter.
Russia's foreign ministry warned on Saturday that foreign nationals and diplomats should avoid travelling to or remaining in Ukraine, saying responsibility for any consequences would fall on those who ignored the warning. Several foreign ambassadors, including Germany's, said on social media they intended to stay in Kyiv.
At home, Merz faces growing criticism over his support for Ukraine as his approval ratings slide, with Germany's far-left and far-right parties, including the Alternative for Germany, pushing to scale back aid.
