Russian Drone Hits Kyiv Bridge During German Chancellor's Visit
A Russian drone struck the Northern Bridge in Kyiv, Ukraine, on Sunday (4/10/2026), while German Chancellor Friedrich Merz was conducting a visit to the Ukrainian capital. The explosion damaged the bridge’s road surface and caused two injuries.
Footage circulating shows the drone diving towards the bridge over the Dnipro River while vehicles were still passing. The drone then exploded, creating a fireball on the roadway.
Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko stated that the explosion also damaged the hot water supply system in the surrounding area. There were no reports of fatalities resulting from the attack on the bridge.
The attack occurred while Merz was in Kyiv to demonstrate German support for Ukraine. Air raid sirens and the sound of explosions were heard repeatedly throughout his visit.
The Guardian reported on Sunday (4/10/2026) that the strike on the Northern Bridge occurred shortly after Merz’s arrival. The attack is part of a series of Russian strikes on Kyiv’s major bridges over four consecutive days.
The Northern Bridge holds a strategic position as it connects the two sides of Kyiv separated by the Dnipro River. Tens of thousands of residents use the bridge network every day for commuting and other activities.
More than one-third of Kyiv’s population lives on the east side of the river. Since most employment centres and key infrastructure are located on the west side, disruptions to the bridge pose a potential for significant transport issues.
This is not the first attack on the bridge. The Associated Press reported that Russian strikes since Thursday have forced the full or partial closure of three out of Kyiv’s six main highway bridges.
Russia has claimed responsibility for hitting the Northern Bridge. The Russian Ministry of Defence stated that the bridge was being used for the transport of Ukrainian troops and military cargo.
Moscow Promises to Intensify Attacks
Sunday’s attack came as Moscow declared it would increase its strike operations against Ukraine. The Russian Ministry of Defence stated that targets would include military facilities, the defence industry, and related infrastructure in Kyiv and other regions of Ukraine.
This statement follows comments from Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, who said Kyiv would increase attacks on Russian oil refineries. Zelenskyy stated that Ukraine would target Russian energy infrastructure in response to Moscow’s increased strikes, but emphasised that Kyiv would not target civilians.
Both Russia and Ukraine have stated they do not intentionally target civilians. However, aerial warfare is increasingly hitting the infrastructure of both nations as the conflict enters its fifth year.
In Kyiv, Russia has increased attacks on telecommunications, electricity, transport, and various military targets in recent weeks. The attacks are also increasingly utilising jet-powered drones, which are faster than previous drone generations.
Zelenskyy assessed the attack on the bridge as part of a Russian escalation. He warned that Ukraine would respond to attacks targeting such infrastructure networks.