Kyiv’s Northern Bridge Struck Again While German Chancellor Arrives

Technicians repair power lines after Drone attack on Kyiv's Pivnichnyi Bridge
Technicians repair overhead trolleybus lines damaged following a drone strike on Kyiv’s Pivnichnyi Bridge.

A major bridge in Kyiv has been targeted for the second day in a row by Russian drones. The Pivnichnyi (Northern) Bridge was struck on Sunday morning, following an earlier attack that damaged its road surface.

Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko said the attack also damaged a heating main, warning that the northern‑eastern Desnyanskyi district would temporarily lack hot water.

The strikes are part of Russia’s intensified effort to cripple critical Ukrainian infrastructure. Earlier this week, the Pivdennyi (Southern) Bridge had been hit multiple times, injuring two people and damaging overhead trolleybus wires.

Just as the attacks intensified, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz arrived in Kyiv by train, sending a message of unwavering support to Ukraine and pledging further assistance for the country’s air defences.

“Ukraine is facing decisive weeks. That is why I travelled to Kyiv today with the message: you can rely on us,” Merz wrote on X. He added that Germany’s security also depends on the war’s outcome.

With the Pivnichnyi Bridge already compromised again, experts warn that repeated hits could force its closure and risk structural damage, potentially rendering it unusable.

Russia, meanwhile, claims its drones targeted the two bridges used to ferry Ukrainian troops and cargo, even as it issues warnings for foreign citizens to leave the capital.

The ongoing clashes mark another chapter in the war that began with Russia’s full‑scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022.