Kyiv Bridges Struck for Fourth Straight Day as German Chancellor Merz Makes Wartime Visit to Ukraine

Russian drone attacks struck major bridges in Kyiv for a fourth consecutive day on Sunday, wounding two people and intensifying pressure on the Ukrainian capital's already strained transport network, even as German Chancellor Friedrich Merz arrived in the city on an unannounced visit to demonstrate Berlin's continued backing for Ukraine.

The Pivnichnyi, or Northern, Bridge was hit on Sunday morning for the second day running, according to Ukrainian officials. Mayor Vitali Klitschko said two people were injured in the strike and that the roadway of the bridge had been damaged. The Pivdennyi, or Southern, Bridge had been struck multiple times earlier in the week, meaning both of the main crossings targeted by Moscow have now sustained repeated hits.

Video verified by the BBC showed vehicles moving across the Pivnichnyi Bridge when a drone plunged into the structure and exploded, producing a fireball and sending a column of black smoke skyward. Images circulating on social media showed a large hole torn through the middle of one of the bridge's traffic lanes, exposing the concrete beneath.

The Russian military stated it would step up strikes on Kyiv and other regions of Ukraine. It had earlier claimed responsibility for hitting the two bridges, describing them as routes used to move Ukrainian troops and equipment. Kyiv has not confirmed that characterization, and the practical effect of the strikes has fallen heavily on civilians.

The eight bridges spanning the Dnipro River are the backbone of daily life in Kyiv, connecting the western right bank with the eastern left bank. Roughly three million residents depend on them, with some 500,000 vehicles crossing daily and metro lines and trains carrying enormous numbers of commuters, particularly on weekdays. With two major crossings damaged and traffic restrictions in place, parts of the capital have repeatedly descended into gridlock.

"To get from the left bank to the right one and back — it's just hell," Kyiv resident Roman told the BBC on Sunday, capturing the frustration of residents whose routines have been upended by the attacks.

Both struck bridges remain standing, but the damage has disrupted road traffic and public transport. Repair crews are working to restore the crossings, and officials say they are drawing up contingency plans that include temporary pontoon bridges, ferry services and even a tunnel beneath the river to keep the city connected. Such measures would represent a significant engineering undertaking in wartime conditions, and transport experts note that no temporary solution can fully replace the capacity of the damaged spans.

Klitschko also reported that a separate Russian drone strike had damaged a heating main, which he said would leave the north-eastern Desnyanskyi district without hot water temporarily. The timing is particularly sensitive, with winter approaching and Ukraine's energy infrastructure already under sustained pressure.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said Russian drones had also attacked a warehouse in the north-eastern Sumy region on Sunday morning, killing one person. In the central city of Dnipro, six people were injured when a communications facility was struck, he added. The breadth of the attacks illustrates that Moscow's campaign extends well beyond the capital.

Ukraine's Air Force said Russia launched 135 drones overnight, including 52 jet-powered models, and that 125 of the projectiles were shot down. The figures underscore both the scale of the nightly assaults and the growing role of faster, harder-to-intercept jet drones in Russia's arsenal.

As emergency services dealt with the aftermath of the strikes, Merz met Zelensky in Kyiv. The two leaders laid wreaths honoring Ukrainian soldiers killed in the war, and they visited the main building of Ukraine's National Academy of Sciences, which was badly damaged in a Russian drone strike earlier this week — an attack that killed two people. Air raid sirens sounded across the city during the visit, a stark reminder of the wartime reality Merz had stepped into.

Merz reaffirmed Germany's support in a message posted on X, writing that Ukraine faces "decisive weeks" and that his trip carried a simple message: "You can rely on us." He added that Germany's own security depends on the outcome of the war, saying that is why Berlin is helping out of self-interest as well. He warned that if Russia is not stopped, its war machine will sooner or later turn against Germany and its allies.

Zelensky said a new aid package worth more than €1.3bn, equivalent to about £1.1bn or $1.5bn, had been agreed with Germany. He said the package includes weapons that will help Ukraine immediately as well as support for the energy sector ahead of winter, when Russian strikes on power and heating infrastructure have historically intensified.

Since becoming chancellor in May 2025, Merz has positioned Germany as the single largest donor to Ukraine, a shift that has made Berlin a central pillar of Western support. His unannounced visit — his latest to the country — signals that Germany intends to maintain that role despite the political and economic costs at home. Zelensky said "important agreements" would be reached between the two countries, though he did not elaborate.

The Ukrainian president has repeatedly appealed to Western allies for more military assistance, including additional air-defense systems capable of intercepting the drones and missiles that rain down on Ukrainian cities. Analysts say the coming weeks could prove pivotal, as winter strains energy supplies and Russia appears determined to exploit the period before promised Western weapons reach the front in meaningful quantities.