Russia hits Kyiv bridge again as Merz visits capital

Russia attacked Kyiv's bridges across the Dnipro River for a fourth straight day on Sunday. A drone exploded on the Northern Bridge while vehicles were crossing it, and three of the capital's six road bridges are now partly or fully closed. Russia's Defence Ministry said it hit the Northern Bridge because the route is used to move troops and military cargo. It also said it struck two dry cargo ships carrying military equipment to the port of Odesa in the northwestern Black Sea. Reuters said it could not independently verify claims by either side.ynetnews+2

Second hit on the Northern Bridge in two days

Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko said Sunday's strike was the second on the Northern Bridge in two days. It damaged a heating main, cutting hot water in the Desnianskyi district on the city's left bank, according to Euromaidan Press. The bridge was closed to traffic, and trolleybus and bus routes were cut short of the river. On Saturday, a strike on the same bridge injured two people.cnn+1

The campaign began on Thursday, when drones repeatedly hit the Southern Bridge. That bridge carries both road traffic and a metro line, and it remains closed. Russia is using jet-powered drones made in Russia. They are fast and fairly cheap, and their speed makes them harder for air defences to shoot down. Ukraine's Air Force said Russia launched 135 attack drones overnight, 52 of them jet-powered Shaheds.euromaidanpress+3

The Russian ministry also reported earlier strikes on a cargo vessel east of Odesa, a Nova Poshta logistics centre in Chornomorsk and a data centre in Odesa. Moscow has promised to step up its attacks. That came after President Volodymyr Zelenskyy told Reuters that Ukraine would increase its strikes on Russian oil refineries.reuters

Zelenskyy: 'terrorism'

Zelenskyy called the bridge attacks terrorism. He said Russia wants to cut links between the two banks of the Dnipro, cause a collapse and force people to leave the capital. He compared the situation to Russia's attempts to break Kharkiv. "[Putin] failed to break them, even [though] the enemy is very close," he said. He added that the Defence Ministry and local authorities are working on backup plans in case the city's infrastructure is badly damaged. Restoration Minister Mykola Kalashnyk has said work has started on earth dams and pontoon crossings.antikor+1

In his Reuters interview, Zelenskyy said Ukraine is shooting down only about 60% of the drones. He said Ukraine has had to rely heavily on fighter jets whose ammunition is running low.ynetnews

Merz visits Kyiv despite warning

Russia urged diplomats and foreigners on Saturday to leave Kyiv ahead of more "mass retaliatory strikes." German Chancellor Friedrich Merz arrived in the capital by train on Sunday anyway. He is expected to announce about 1 billion euros in military aid aimed at countering the jet-powered drones, and 350 million euros for Ukraine's infrastructure ahead of winter.ynetnews

"If Russia is not stopped, sooner or later its war machine will be turned against us," Merz said.ynetnews