Kyiv bridge hit in Russian drone attack during Merz visit
Kyiv's Pivnichnyi Bridge was hit by a Russian drone for a second consecutive day as German Chancellor Friedrich Merz made a surprise visit.
Stock photo for illustration only, not from the actual event
- Kyiv's Pivnichnyi Bridge was struck by a Russian drone for the second day in a row on Sunday.
- German Chancellor Friedrich Merz made a surprise visit to Kyiv to reaffirm support for Ukraine.
- A drone attack on a Sumy warehouse killed one person, while six were injured in Dnipro.
- The Russian defence ministry announced plans to intensify strikes across Kyiv and other regions.
Russian forces have continued targeting critical infrastructure in Ukraine's capital, hitting major bridges across the Dnipro River for four consecutive days in what appears to be a shifting military strategy by Moscow.
The Pivnichnyi (Northern) Bridge was struck on Sunday morning for the second consecutive day. BBC-verified footage of the incident shows vehicles moving across the bridge just as a drone crashes into the roadway, triggering a massive fireball and a thick cloud of black smoke.
Stock photo for illustration only, not from the actual event
Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko wrote on Telegram that the blast damaged a heating main, resulting in a temporary disruption of hot water in the north-eastern Desnyanskyi district. Earlier in the week, multiple strikes also targeted the Pivdennyi (Southern) Bridge, prompting Kyiv's defence council to hold an emergency meeting on Friday.
The deliberate targeting of Kyiv's major Dnipro River crossings marks a tactical shift, as these bridges had remained unhit since the full-scale invasion began in 2022. While military experts note that drones are unlikely to collapse the heavy structures, repeated attacks risk forcing permanent closures and structurally weakening the capital's vital transport links.
This escalation coincided with a surprise visit to Kyiv on Sunday by German Chancellor Friedrich Merz. Meeting with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Merz laid wreaths at a memorial for fallen soldiers and reaffirmed Berlin's steadfast backing.
"Ukraine is facing decisive weeks. That is why I travelled to Kyiv today with the message: You can rely on us."
Friedrich Merz
President Zelenskyy reported further casualties from Sunday's bombardment, noting that a drone strike on a warehouse in Sumy left one person dead, while six individuals were injured following an attack on a communications facility in Dnipro. Zelenskyy added that important bilateral agreements between Ukraine and Germany are expected, amidst ongoing appeals to Western allies for advanced drone interceptors.
Source: BBC World
Found something wrong in this article? Report an issue with this article
Comments
Leave a Comment