Russian guided bombs hit Kyiv bridge and injure over 20 in Sumy as German Chancellor Merz arrives with aid

Russian forces hit Kyiv’s Northern Bridge with a guided bomb at 10:34 a.m. on October 4, injuring two people, one of whom was hospitalized, while a damaged heating main briefly cut off hot water in the Desnianskyi district.

In the morning, a wave of guided bombs struck Sumy and the nearby Bezdrytsia community, and a second wave hit the city around 2 p.m., leaving more than 25 people wounded, including a one‑year‑old child and a 52‑year‑old worker killed by a drone at a local enterprise.

The attacks formed part of a broader campaign that saw 45 Russian strikes on 21 settlements in Sumy Oblast alone, and additional drone and missile assaults across Chernihiv, Poltava, Kharkiv, Donetsk, Dnipropetrovsk, Zaporizhzhia and Kherson regions, causing dozens of casualties and widespread infrastructure damage.

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz arrived in Kyiv by train on the same day, meeting President Volodymyr Zelensky to announce a German assistance package worth over €1.3 billion. The package includes €1 billion in military aid—funding for interceptor drones, thousands of IRIS‑T missiles and additional fire units—and roughly €350 million for energy support.

Merz said the new weapons would “quickly and noticeably strengthen Ukraine’s air defence,” addressing the urgent need for protection against Russia’s increasing use of jet‑powered drones. Fifteen cooperation documents were signed during the visit.

Ukrainian officials noted that the attacks on bridges and energy facilities aim to disrupt supply lines and civilian services, underscoring the strategic importance of the Northern Bridge for logistics between central and eastern Ukraine.

Zelensky highlighted ongoing diplomatic efforts, noting a proposed trilateral technical meeting with the United States by the end of October and confirming discussions about Russia’s new jet‑powered drone technology.

The day’s events illustrate the simultaneous pressures of military aggression and international support, as Ukraine confronts intensified aerial strikes while receiving a significant boost to its defensive capabilities.