They want to plunge Kharkiv into silence: an expert explained why the TV tower was attacked

Russian troops struck the Kharkiv TV tower. A video appeared on the social network showing how the upper part of the structure falls down after the damage.

TSN.ua asked a military expert what purpose was behind such actions by the enemy. And whether it indicates Russian plans to seize the city, intending to deprive residents of access to information.

Creating a "sanitary zone"

Military expert Ihor Romanenko explains that recently, Russian foreign minister Serhiy Lavrov made a statement suggesting that Kharkiv should become part of a so-called "sanitary zone".

"The statement itself is very cynical, but Lavrov hinted that before entering Kharkiv into the “sanitary zone,” it needs to be prepared for this, which essentially means destroying it. So, the Russians are executing their plan. They are gradually destroying the city's supply of electricity, water, and heat. Now they have decided to fight on the information front, depriving the residents of Ukrainian information. More precisely, they want to impose informational silence in Kharkiv and cut off communication with Ukraine," Ihor Romanenko, retired lieutenant general and deputy chief of the General Staff in 2006-2010, told TSN.ua.

How to counter the enemy

The expert assures that the only way out of this situation is to deliver powerful strikes in response with the weapons we have available.

"There is one caveat here - our allies provide us with weapons, but with the condition that they cannot be used on Russian territory. Therefore, we must defend ourselves with what we have. At the same time, there are high hopes for receiving F-16 aircraft. NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg noted that we can use aviation even on Russian territory because we need to fight against guided aerial bombs that the occupiers launch at Kharkiv from their own territory. Also, long-range complexes - Patriot or our S-200s - can be used as a countermeasure to guided aerial bombs," Ihor Romanenko notes.

They hit with a guided missile

He adds that the enemy could hit the Kharkiv TV tower with a guided missile.

"This missile was most likely guided, i.e. with a camera. The strike was targeted. The means of damage must be determined by experts, but it was equipped with precision targeting devices in order to hit the TV tower structures at the final stage of the missile's flight," Ihor Romanenko concludes.

What does the State Service of Special Communications and Information Protection of Ukraine say?

Due to the Russian attack on the TV tower in Kharkiv, its structure was partially damaged. According to preliminary data from the Kharkiv Regional Prosecutor's Office, an X-59 missile was used for the strike.

There is currently no information about any killed or injured.

At the moment, television broadcasting is temporarily unavailable as restoration works are ongoing. However, the transmission of several radio stations in the FM range continues.

"During the repair works, residents of Kharkiv and the region who are left without digital television can receive information from local radio stations, use cable or online television, or receive TV signals through satellite receivers," the press service of the State Service of Special Communications and Information Protection of Ukraine reports.

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