Kiev, Ukraine — Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said a Russian missile assault that damaged a prominent skyline television tower in Kharkiv was part of the Kremlin’s effort to terrorize Ukraine’s second-largest city, which has been targeted more frequently in recent weeks.
The strike aimed to “make the terror visible to the whole city and to try to limit Kharkiv’s connection and access to information,” Zelenskyy stated in a Monday evening address.
A Russian strike on Kharkiv’s TV tower is part of an intimidation campaign, Ukraine’s Zelenskyy says
The northeastern Kharkiv region borders the roughly 1,000-kilometer (600-mile) front line where Ukrainian and Russian forces have been fighting for more than two years, following Moscow’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine. During an attrition war, the front line has remained relatively static, focusing primarily on artillery, drones, and trenches.
Since late March, Russia has increased pressure on Kharkiv, ostensibly to exploit Ukraine’s lack of air defense systems. It has battered the local power grid and struck apartment buildings.
On Monday, a Russian Kh-59 missile damaged Kharkiv’s 250-meter (820-foot) TV tower, severing it approximately in half and halting transmissions.
According to a Washington think group, Russia may consider launching a ground assault against Kharkiv.
“The Kremlin is conducting a concerted air and information operation to destroy Kharkiv City, convince Ukrainians to flee, and internally displace millions of Ukrainians ahead of a possible future Russian offensive operation against the city or elsewhere in Ukraine,” according to the Institute for the Study of War, which released an assessment of the situation.
The projected arrival in Ukraine of new military supplies from Western partners in the coming weeks may have spurred Russia to accelerate its attacks before the equipment arrives, the ISW said, adding that capturing Kharkiv would be “a significant challenge” for the Kremlin’s soldiers.
Instead, the Russian military command “may attempt to destroy Kharkiv City with air, missile, and drone strikes, prompting a large-scale internal displacement of Ukrainian civilians,” it stated.
The United States Senate returned to Washington on Tuesday to vote on $61 billion in war aid to Ukraine, following months of delays. Zelensky said US President Joe Biden informed him that the aid will include long-range and artillery capabilities.
“Four priorities are key: defense of the sky, modern artillery, long-range capacity, and to ensure that packages of American aid arrive as soon as possible,” he stated.
Also on Tuesday, Britain offered 500 million pounds ($620 million, 580 million euros) in fresh military supplies for Ukraine, including 400 vehicles, 60 boats, 1,600 missiles, and 4 million rounds of ammunition.
The shipment will also include British Storm Shadow long-range missiles, which have a range of around 150 miles (240 kilometers) and have been effective against Russian targets, according to the British government.
A Russian strike on Kharkiv’s TV tower is part of an intimidation campaign, Ukraine’s Zelenskyy says
British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak called Zelenskyy on Tuesday morning to confirm the additional aid. He made the announcement during a visit to Warsaw later that day, where he met with Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk and NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg.
However, the European Union delivered less positive news. EU countries with Patriot air defense systems provided no clear indication Monday that they would be willing to send them to Ukraine, which sorely needs at least seven of the missile batteries.
Ukraine’s army is also outnumbered in the conflict, and increasing the country’s mobilization has been a tricky matter.
Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba warned on Tuesday that authorities intend to crack down on young men of conscription age who have relocated abroad, with detailed measures to be announced soon.
“Staying abroad does not relieve a citizen of his or her duties to the homeland,” Kuleba said on the social networking platform X.
Meanwhile, Russia launched 16 Shahed drones and two Iskander-M ballistic missiles over Ukraine’s southern and central areas, the Ukrainian air force reported Tuesday morning. It stated that all but one of the drones were intercepted.
A Russian strike on Kharkiv’s TV tower is part of an intimidation campaign, Ukraine’s Zelenskyy says
An nighttime attack in Odesa injured nine persons, according to Regional Governor Oleh Kiper. According to Kiper, the injured included two newborns and two children aged nine and twelve. Hennadii Trukhanov, the city mayor, reported that 58 flats in 22 buildings were destroyed.
Among other developments:
A Russian missile strike near Dnipro, Ukraine’s fourth-largest city, injured four people and sent them to the hospital, according to regional governor Serhii Lysak.
Russian forces launched a guided aerial bomb in Kostiantynivka, a city in the eastern Donetsk area, injuring five people riding in a car, according to authorities. Both of them were in critical condition.
SOURCE – (AP)
