German Chancellor Friedrich Merz arrived in Kyiv on Sunday morning in an unannounced visit, a move demonstrating Europe's continued support for Ukraine. Soon after his arrival, Russia struck the North Bridge, one of several bridges connecting central Kyiv to residential suburbs across the Dnipro River.
Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko confirmed the strike on Telegram, writing: "Impact on the road surface of the Northern Bridge. Emergency services are heading to the scene." No casualties have been reported so far. Video and images shared online appeared to show a missile hitting the cable bridge and a resulting explosion.
The attack on the North Bridge comes after strikes on the South Bridge on Friday and Saturday, and earlier attacks that have shut three of the city's six road bridges this week.
Merz, who has been one of Ukraine's strongest European backers, travelled to Kyiv without prior public announcement. The German chancellor's visit comes as Kyiv, which was largely spared direct aerial strikes in the first years of the war, has come under increasingly heavy attack since April. According to reports, Russia has launched strikes day and night, hitting schools, petrol stations, government buildings and churches as well as rail and communication infrastructure.
A general alert of sirens rang across Kyiv as the attack unfolded.