Merz pledges Ukraine aid Russia claims bridge strike

Oct 4

CCTV reports that German Chancellor Friedrich Merz visited Kyiv on October 4 and pledged about one billion euros in additional military support for Ukraine. The complete brief continues with an explosion in Kyiv that day, Russia's Defense Ministry's claim that its drones struck the Northern Bridge across the Dnipro, and its stated intention to intensify strikes on military targets in Kyiv and elsewhere in response to Zelenskyy's refinery-strike statement. The Russian target and retaliation claims remain attributed.

DD India reports a fresh Russian strike damaging Kyiv's Northern Bridge on Sunday October 4 shortly after Merz's arrival, with emergency response and recent Dnipro-crossing attacks as context. Tagesschau reports a Russian drone hitting a major bridge during the visit, repeated alerts and Merz's complete condemnation and call for talks. Tagesschau does not itself name the bridge or give a casualty count. The Academy of Sciences location does not establish a new October 4 attack on that building. This day's strike is distinct from the inspected October 3 Northern Bridge attack. CCTV's October 5 brief says an explosion occurred during the October 4 visit and attributes to Russia's Defence Ministry the claim that Russian drones hit Kyiv's North Bridge. It also attributes a threat to intensify strikes on military targets in Kyiv and elsewhere to retaliation for Zelenskyy's refinery-strike statement. The target description and rationale are Russian claims, retained alongside the earlier Ukrainian-site reporting and Merz's condemnation; they do not independently establish the ministry's stated motive.