Russian drone crashes into kyiv bridge in campaign that intensifies as German Chancellor arrives to sirens and explosions

A Russian drone slammed into a major bridge in the Ukrainian capital of kyiv on Sunday as German Chancellor Friedrich Merz arrived in the city to the sound of air raid sirens, explosions and activated air defense systems.

Merz is in kyiv to show his support for Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky amid an escalation of Russian strikes against the city.

“Ukraine needs all our support in the coming weeks,” Merz said.

Highlighting attacks on Ukraine’s cities, residential buildings and energy sector, he said: “If Russia is not stopped, sooner or later its war machine will turn against us.” »

Video footage of the Sunday morning strike showed the moment the city’s north bridge was attacked, triggering a huge plume of fire and black smoke while cars were still traveling. Two people were injured, said the city’s mayor, Vitaliy Klitschko.

This is the second time that the North Bridge has been hit in as many days. On Thursday and Friday, kyiv’s southern bridge, which serves the city’s land transport and metro, was hit five times in less than 24 hours.

Ukrainian officials said Russian strikes on the capital’s infrastructure were attempting to cut the capital in two, because kyiv is divided along the Dnipro River, with business offices and government institutions on the right rear, and the left bank is mostly residential.

kyiv plans to start building several alternative crossings over the Dnipro in case attacks on bridges continue, the infrastructure minister said on Sunday.

The Russian Defense Ministry said Sunday it had struck the Northern Bridge, saying it targeted a road used for transporting troops and military equipment. He added that two cargo ships carrying military equipment to the port of Odessa were struck. On Saturday, the Russian Defense Ministry said it had also targeted a logistics center in the kyiv region.

Merz traveled to Kyiv alongside his Minister of Economic Affairs and Energy, Katarina Reiche, despite Russia’s warnings on Saturday that foreign visitors and dignitaries in the Ukrainian capital are not safe amid a wave of Russian attacks.

Zelensky and Merz are in the process of entering into a major defense and industrial partnership, which will see the two countries finalize a deal for the production of drones and missiles.

Berlin is also expected to release 1 billion euros ($1.13 billion) in military aid and 350 million euros ($390 million) to repair Ukraine’s damaged energy infrastructure. German government officials said.

Zelensky warned that Ukraine’s defensive needs are growing amid Russia’s accelerated air campaign, which has seen Moscow fire high-speed Shahed-type jet drones capable of bypassing some of Ukraine’s air defense systems and exploiting its lack of interceptors.

Earlier on Sunday, Merz said Ukraine “faces decisive weeks.” Writing on X, he said: “I traveled to kyiv today with the message: you can count on us. »

Meanwhile, there appears to be no immediate respite for kyiv’s three million residents, with Moscow saying on Sunday it would only intensify its strikes targeting the capital and other cities.

“Strikes of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation against military and military-industrial facilities, as well as associated infrastructure in kyiv and other regions of Ukraine, will be intensified,” the ministry said.

Russia’s renewed threat follows a Reuters interview by Zelensky on Saturday, in which he outlined his intention to step up attacks on oil refineries.

“We must respond in every possible way. With their attacks on our energy, we must respond on their energy. First of all, the oil refiners, etc. – what brings them money for this war,” Zelensky said.

His comments come despite urging from US President Donald Trump, who recently asked Ukraine to stay away from attacks on Russian oil infrastructure, saying it was driving up global oil prices.

CNN’s Kara Fox and Farida Elsebai reports contributed.