Russia Strikes Kyiv Bridge as German Chancellor Arrives in Ukraine

Russia has launched an attack on a key bridge in Kyiv as German Chancellor Friedrich Merz arrived in the Ukrainian capital for talks with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

Merz’s unannounced visit on Sunday, October 4, 2026, took place amid air-raid sirens and explosions, highlighting the growing intensity of Russian attacks on Ukrainian cities.

In a statement, Merz said he travelled to Kyiv because Ukraine “needs all our support in the coming weeks,” warning that Russia’s war machine could eventually threaten other European countries if Moscow is not stopped.

Merz and Zelenskyy met at the National Academy of Sciences, which was itself hit by a Russian drone attack on September 28.

Zelenskyy told the German leader that residents of Kyiv were experiencing “terrible nights and days” because of the continued Russian strikes.

The German delegation included the country’s economy minister and executives from major companies, including Siemens Energy and Diehl Defence.

Germany and Ukraine are also expected to finalise an agreement to jointly produce drones and other weapons capable of travelling more than 965 kilometres, potentially allowing Ukraine to strike deeper inside Russian territory.

Germany has remained one of Ukraine’s strongest supporters. The two countries signed a military agreement worth more than $4 billion in April. Berlin is also expected to announce a new $1.1 billion military aid package for Ukraine, along with about $394 million to help repair damage to the country’s energy infrastructure.

The visit came a day after Russia warned foreign diplomats and nationals to leave Kyiv, citing the risk of further attacks.

Russia’s Ministry of Defence has also threatened to intensify its strikes on Ukraine after Zelenskyy said Kyiv was increasing attacks on Russian oil refineries.

The latest strike hit the Northern Bridge over the Dnipro River, damaging a road and disrupting hot-water supplies in the surrounding area, according to Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko.

It was the second bridge in Kyiv to be hit by Russian attacks over the weekend.

The Russia-Ukraine war has entered its fifth year, with both sides increasingly using drones and missiles against infrastructure, logistics facilities and military targets.