Major bridges in Kyiv have been targeted by Russian strikes for four consecutive days, as Moscow ramps up attacks on critical infrastructure in the capital.

The Pivnichnyi (Northern) Bridge was hit on Sunday morning for the second day in a row, while the Pivdennyi (Southern) Bridge was hit in multiple attacks earlier in the week.

The latest bridge attack came as German Chancellor Friedrich Merz made a surprise visit to the capital on Sunday.

Meanwhile, Russia's defence ministry said it would be intensifying strikes on Kyiv and other regions of the country.

Video footage of Sunday's strike, verified by the BBC, shows cars moving on Pivnichnyi Bridge as a drone crashes into it before exploding, creating a ball of fire. A cloud of black smoke can be seen rising above the bridge.

No casualties have been reported.

Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko wrote about the strike on Telegram, saying: "Hitting the roadway on the Pivnichnyi Bridge. Emergency services are on their way to the scene."

He said the strike had damaged a heating main, adding that there would be a temporary lack of hot water in the north-eastern Desnyanskyi district as a result.

President Volodymyr Zelenksy said on Sunday morning Russian drones also attacked a warehouse in Sumy, killing one person.

Meanwhile, in Dnipro, six people were injured after a communications facility was struck, he said.

As emergency services responded to the incidents, Germany's Merz met Zelenksy in Kyiv. They laid wreaths to Ukrainian soldiers who have been killed in the war.

Merz reaffirmed his country's support for Ukraine, writing on X: "Ukraine is facing decisive weeks. That is why I travelled to Kyiv today with the message: You can rely on us.

"Germany's security also depends on the outcome of this war. That is why we are helping out of our own self-interest as well."

Since Merz became chancellor in May 2025, Germany has become the single largest donor to Ukraine.

He said the country "needs all our support in the coming weeks", adding: "If Russia is not stopped, its war machine will sooner or later turn against us."

Zelensky said there would be "important agreements" made between Ukraine and Germany.

The Ukrainian president has made repeated appeals for Western allies to provide more military support to the country, including supplying advanced interceptors that can shoot down new jet-powered, Russian drones.

The attacks on Kyiv's major bridges appear to be a new strategy from Moscow.

The first Russian strike on the Pivnichnyi Bridge took place on Saturday, injuring two people and damaging the road surface and overhead trolleybus wires, Klitschko said.

Just days before, the Pivdennyi (Southern) Bridge was hit multiple times by Russian drones.

The Pivdennyi and Pivnichnyi bridges, which cross the Dnipro River, link the western and eastern parts of the capital and had not been hit before Thursday.

Russia said its drones had hit the two bridges, which it said were used to transfer Ukrainian troops and military cargo.

It also repeated a warning for foreign citizens, including diplomats, to leave Kyiv.

Responding to the warning, EU ambassador Katarína Mathernová wrote on X on Sunday: "The EU Delegation is staying. Threatening us will not stop Europe's support for Ukraine. It only reminds us why that support matters!"

German ambassador to Ukraine, Boris Ruge, reacted to Mathernova's post with: "Amen - we're staying".