The 240-meter television tower in Ukraine’s second-largest city of Kharkiv has been destroyed, likely by a Russian missile strike. The attack disrupted television signals in the city and is the latest in a series of strikes on Kharkiv in recent weeks.
Regional governor Oleh Syniehubov confirmed the attack, stating that the digital television signal is currently disrupted. However, there were no casualties as workers were in shelters at the time of the strike.
Footage from the scene shows the main mast of the tower breaking off and falling down as a cloud of smoke rises into the sky. It is not clear from the footage what hit the mast, but Kharkiv prosecutors believe that Russia used a cruise Kh-59 missile in the attack.
Russia first attacked Kharkiv’s television tower several times in early March 2022, soon after it launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine. The signal was disrupted at the time, and Moscow has recently stepped up its attacks amid Ukraine’s shortage of air defense capabilities.
Meanwhile, fighting continues in eastern Ukraine, where Russia is attempting to capture the town of Chasiv Yar. Kyiv said that a force of up to 25,000 Russian soldiers is trying to storm the town and surrounding villages.
Ukraine has full control of Chasiv Yar, which lies on strategic high ground in the partially-occupied Donetsk region. However, Kyiv’s top commander has said that Russia wants to capture the town by May 9, when it marks Soviet Victory Day in World War II.
“The situation around the town is difficult, however the situation is controllable … Our defenders are both receiving reinforcement and stabilizing the line,” said Nazar Voloshyn, a spokesman for the eastern military command.
The capture of Chasiv Yar would bring Russia closer to two strategically important cities under Ukrainian control, Kramatorsk and Sloviansk. Russia has already been inching forward, but long-delayed US military assistance is expected to reach Ukraine soon, which could help stabilize the situation and replenish dwindling ammunition supplies.
