A Russian drone hits a bridge in Kyiv coinciding with the visit of the German Chancellor

A Russian drone struck a bridge in the Ukrainian capital, Kiev, on Sunday, coinciding with a visit by German Chancellor Friedrich Merz to the city to show support for Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. Video footage showed the moment the "Northern Bridge" in the city was hit, causing huge flames and thick black smoke to rise, while cars were still crossing it, and there have been no reports so far of any injuries.

Russia is escalating its campaign against the Ukrainian capital, and this is the second time that the northern bridge has been bombed in two days. This visit comes at a time when Mertz arrived in Kiev accompanied by the Minister of Economic Affairs and Energy, Katharina Reich, despite Russian warnings issued on Saturday that foreign visitors and dignitaries in the Ukrainian capital are not safe amid the continuing Russian attacks.

Mertz wrote on the X platform on Saturday: “Ukraine is facing critical weeks, so I traveled to Kiev today with a message saying: You can count on us.”