A major bridge in Ukraine’s capital, Kyiv, has come under another Russian drone attack, with the latest strike damaging a heating pipeline and disrupting hot-water supplies in part of the city. The incident occurred on Sunday as German Chancellor Friedrich Merz arrived in Kyiv to reaffirm Germany’s support for Ukraine.
The Pivnichnyi, also known as the Northern Bridge, was struck on Sunday morning, marking the second consecutive day the structure had been targeted.
Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko said the latest attack damaged a heating main, warning that residents of the northeastern Desnyanskyi district would temporarily lose access to hot water.
In a statement shared on Telegram, Klitschko reported that the bridge’s roadway had been hit and said emergency services were being dispatched to the scene.
The latest incident followed Saturday’s attack, which damaged the bridge’s road surface and overhead trolleybus wires and left two people injured, according to the mayor.
The repeated strikes form part of a series of attacks on major bridges across Kyiv in recent days, raising concerns about the security of critical infrastructure and transport links in the Ukrainian capital.
Southern Bridge Also Targeted
The Pivdennyi, or Southern Bridge, has also been hit repeatedly by Russian drones since the attacks began earlier in the week.
The two bridges span the Dnipro River, connecting the western and eastern parts of Kyiv. According to the supplied report, neither bridge had been targeted before Thursday’s incidents.
Russia has claimed that the bridges are used to transport Ukrainian troops and military equipment. Moscow has also renewed its warning for foreign nationals, including diplomats, to leave Kyiv.
Unverified video footage circulating online reportedly showed a drone striking the Northern Bridge while vehicles were moving across it. The footage appeared to show an explosion followed by a large plume of dark smoke rising above the structure.
Repeated attacks could disrupt transport and place additional pressure on Kyiv’s infrastructure. Experts cited in the report said the drones were unlikely to destroy the bridges outright, but continued strikes could force temporary closures and potentially weaken their structural integrity.
Merz Reaffirms Germany’s Support for Ukraine
The attack coincided with a visit to Kyiv by German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, who travelled to the Ukrainian capital by train.
During the visit, Merz reaffirmed Berlin’s commitment to supporting Ukraine, including efforts to strengthen the country’s air-defence capabilities.
In a statement posted on X, the German leader said Ukraine was approaching a decisive period and assured the country that Germany would continue to stand by it.
Merz also stressed that the outcome of the war had implications for Germany’s own security, presenting continued assistance to Ukraine as a matter of national interest.
The chancellor also joined Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky at a memorial honouring Ukrainian defenders killed in the conflict.
Kyiv Warns of Growing Pressure on Critical Infrastructure
The latest bridge attacks come amid an intensification of Russian strikes against infrastructure in Kyiv, including transport routes, residential areas and facilities considered essential to the city’s functioning.
Klitschko previously described the situation as extremely serious, warning that attacks on infrastructure and logistics were placing the capital under growing pressure.
Earlier strikes against the Southern Bridge prompted Kyiv’s defence council to convene an emergency meeting to assess the situation.
Russian President Vladimir Putin has said Moscow’s attacks are a response to Ukrainian strikes on Russian energy facilities. Ukraine and its allies have continued to face the wider consequences of Russia’s full-scale invasion, which began in February 2022.
The repeated attacks on Kyiv’s bridges highlight the continuing vulnerability of civilian infrastructure as the war enters another critical phase.
