The strike resulted in the main mast of the television tower breaking off and collapsing to the ground in a city already ravaged by weeks of missile and drone attacks.
Zelenskyy informed U.S. President Joe Biden about the airstrike,
“It is Russia’s clear intention to make the city uninhabitable,” as documented in a transcript of their phone conversation published on the Telegram messaging app.
Situated just 30 km (18 miles) from the Russian border,
Kharkiv is vulnerable to ballistic missiles and other weaponry due to Ukraine’s dwindling air defense capabilities. The city’s power facilities have suffered extensive damage since
Russia began targeting the energy system with large-scale strikes last month.
Regional governor Oleh Syniehubov reported interruptions to the digital television signal but confirmed no casualties as workers had taken shelter.
Footage from the aftermath depicted the collapsed tower section lying in a nearby forested area, with surrounding buildings sustaining significant damage from falling debris.
The Service for State Special Communications stated that the tower structure had been partially damaged,
likely from a strike with a Kh-59 cruise missile. Efforts are underway to restore the television signal, with residents advised to use alternative methods for accessing information.
This latest attack follows earlier assaults on Kharkiv’s television tower in March 2022, resulting in disrupted signals. With Moscow intensifying its attacks and Ukraine
facing air defense shortages, Kharkiv and its vicinity remain among the hardest-hit areas.
