Russian drone strikes Kyiv bridge during Merz visit

A Russian drone struck Kyiv’s Northern Bridge on Sunday, October 4, injuring two people during German Chancellor Friedrich Merz’s visit to Ukraine, according to reports citing Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko and published footage. The strike damaged the bridge’s roadway, and Klitschko said a nearby hot-water supply system was also affected. Video showed a drone hitting the bridge, followed by an explosion as vehicles crossed. The incident occurred as Merz met Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in Kyiv, where air-raid alerts and explosions were reported during the German chancellor’s visit. The reports did not establish whether the bridge was selected because of its use for military transport. Merz announced German support for Ukraine, including military aid and energy-sector assistance. Reported amounts varied: German government officials were cited as putting military aid at €1 billion and energy support at €350 million, while another account gave figures of about €850 million for military aid and €300 million for energy assistance. Zelensky described the package as nearly €1.5 billion.