Russia strikes Kyiv as Germany’s Merz visits

Kyiv, Ukraine experienced another major Russian strike on Sunday, just after German Chancellor Friedrich Merz arrived for a surprise visit to express European solidarity amid increased attacks. Air raid sirens repeatedly warned residents throughout the morning, even as Merz met with President Volodymyr Zelensky at the National Academy of Sciences, which was hit by a Russian attack drone on Tuesday.

Zelensky described Kyiv residents enduring "terrible nights and days" from relentless Russian attacks and called the adversaries "absolute barbarians." Merz expressed his dismay at the "pointlessness" of the war and called for an end to the barbarous attacks on Ukrainian civilians, stating they are "war crimes being committed daily here."

Mayor Vitali Klitschko reported that the Northern Bridge, a crucial connection between the city's eastern and western parts, had been damaged by a missile strike. Images showed a fireball erupting from the strike. Klitschko warned that Kyiv, largely spared from previous wartime devastation, should now be on a war footing due to the surge in attacks targeting residential areas, infrastructure, and daily life.

Merz arrived to reassure Ukraine that Europe stands with it, pledging support for the coming weeks, including a package of military assistance worth over $1 billion, which includes advanced interceptors to counter Russia's new fast-moving, jet-powered drones.

The support package aims to address Ukraine's most pressing air defense gaps, with rapid, tangible impacts expected. However, tensions have escalated within NATO and the EU, with fears that failure to halt Russia's aggression in Ukraine could lead to attacks on other member states, including via covert means. Russia warned foreigners and diplomats to leave Kyiv, threatening any non-compliance with a "massive" new bombardment.

Despite these threats, the EU delegation, led by Ambassador Katarina Mathernova, remains in Kyiv, asserting that European support for Ukraine will not waver. With winter approaching and Russia admitting to targeting Ukraine's energy sector, Kyiv residents are preparing for potential power and heating outages, with vulnerable populations considering evacuation. Merz's visit included a pledge of €350 million to aid Kyiv's power infrastructure and grid repairs.