Kyiv bridge strike coincides with Merz’s visit as German aid is expected
A strike attributed to Russia damaged Kyiv’s Northern Bridge and disrupted local hot-water supply. Germany was expected to announce military and energy repair support, but the source report did not confirm those commitments.
A strike attributed to Russia hit Kyiv’s Northern Bridge over the Dnipro River on Sunday, damaging a road and disrupting hot-water supply in the area, Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko said in a social media statement. Al Jazeera reported it was the second bridge in the capital hit that weekend.
The strike occurred as German Chancellor Friedrich Merz made an unannounced visit to Kyiv and met President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. Merz said Ukraine needed Germany’s support in the coming weeks.
Ukraine and Germany were expected to finalise a joint weapons-production deal covering drones and other weapons with a reported range of more than 600 miles. The source report did not confirm the deal had been finalised.
Germany was also expected to announce a $1.1 billion military aid package and $394 million for repairs to Ukraine’s energy sector. The report did not confirm those announcements. The countries signed a military pact worth more than $4 billion in April.
Merz’s visit came as Russia’s full-scale war entered its fifth year. Al Jazeera reported that both sides had increased drone and missile attacks on infrastructure, logistics and military sites in recent months.
