Kyiv’s Pivnichnyi (Northern) Bridge was targeted by Russian drone strikes on Sunday morning, marking the second consecutive day of attacks on the critical infrastructure. The strikes occurred against the backdrop of a surprise visit by German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, who arrived in the Ukrainian capital to reaffirm Berlin’s commitment to Kyiv.
Following Sunday’s impact, Mayor Vitali Klitschko reported that a heating main had been damaged, predicting a temporary shortage of hot water for residents in the Desnyanskyi district. Unverified video footage captured a drone crashing into the bridge structure and exploding, sending a plume of black smoke into the sky.
This incident represents an escalation in Moscow’s focus on Kyiv’s major transport links over the past 96 hours. The Pivdennyi (Southern) Bridge was struck multiple times on Friday, while the Northern Bridge suffered its first hit on Saturday. That earlier attack injured two people and damaged overhead trolleybus lines and the road surface.
Klitschko confirmed the latest damage on Telegram, stating, “Hitting the roadway on the North Bridge. Emergency services are on their way to the scene.”
As emergency crews responded to the blast, Chancellor Merz held meetings with Ukrainian leadership. Arriving by train, Merz laid flowers at a memorial for fallen defenders alongside President Volodymyr Zelensky. He emphasized the strategic importance of Ukraine’s resilience, writing on X: “Ukraine is facing decisive weeks. That is why I travelled to Kyiv today with the message: You can rely on us.”
Merz further noted that Germany’s own security is linked to the war’s outcome, framing the aid as an act of “self-interest.”
Russian officials have claimed the strikes were aimed at disrupting the movement of Ukrainian troops and military cargo across the Dnipro River bridges. Additionally, Moscow issued a warning for foreign diplomats and citizens to depart the capital.
Security experts suggest that while Russian drones are unlikely to destroy the bridges entirely, repeated impacts threaten structural integrity and will force prolonged closures, severely hampering logistics. Klitschko described the situation as “very dramatic,” noting that the capital’s critical infrastructure, logistics, and housing are under sustained bombardment.
Russia has justified the attacks as retaliation for Ukrainian strikes on Russian energy facilities, despite Moscow initiating such targeting at the start of its full-scale invasion in 2022.
Two consecutive days on the same bridge? Klitschko is right, this is dramatic. People just want hot water and safe crossings, not more rhetoric.
Germany framing aid as self-interest feels like a pragmatic shift. Is this genuine strategic realism or just political cover for deeper cuts elsewhere?
It is chilling that Merz arrived by train while drones hit the city. The contrast between diplomatic solidarity and relentless bombardment is stark.