Russian drone hits Kyiv’s Northern Bridge during German Chancellor’s visit
A Russian drone struck Kyiv’s Northern Bridge on Sunday, injuring two people and damaging the structure during German Chancellor Friedrich Merz’s visit to the city.
The incident adds a stark new layer to escalating tensions as President Vladimir Putin prepares a large‑scale mobilization of troops, and it underscores the strategic significance of Germany’s aid package that Zelensky and Merz discussed during the visit.
Authorities said the unmanned aerial vehicle crashed into the busy span of the bridge during morning traffic, igniting a large fireball and black smoke that enveloped one side of the road. Mayor Vitaliy Klitschko reported that the explosion also damaged a nearby hot‑water supply system.
"I can only repeat it once again from this point: Mr. Putin, put an end to this senseless war," Chancellor Merz said during the meeting.
Only two people were injured, according to the mayor, and emergency crews worked quickly to clear the area and restore limited traffic flow. Photographs released by local media showed cars racing past the blast site as firefighters tackled the blaze.
Russian officials warned that attacks on Kyiv’s infrastructure would intensify, a statement from the Ministry of Defense echoed the Kremlin’s broader warning to European nations—particularly Germany—to halt aid programs to Ukraine.
In the same meeting, President Zelensky highlighted a nearly $1.5 million aid package from Germany, emphasizing its importance for air‑defense capabilities and energy sector support ahead of the coming winter.
The bridge strike follows a spate of attacks on Kyiv’s Southern Bridge earlier in the week, part of what Russian officials describe as retaliatory strikes. Analysts note that the Kremlin’s heightened aggression coincides with reports that Putin is preparing to conscript up to 120,000 additional soldiers as part of a new mobilization effort.
Ukrainian authorities have stepped up security measures around critical infrastructure, and officials continue to assess the full extent of the damage to the Northern Bridge. The incident is being investigated as a possible warning aimed at deterring further German assistance, a narrative echoed in Russian state media.
As Ukraine evaluates repairs, Germany is expected to move forward with its announced aid, including additional military supplies and energy support, while Kyiv remains on high alert for further drone incursions.
