Kharkiv Oblast Governor Confirms Strike Causing TV Signal Disruptions, No Casualties Reported

On April 23, 2024, Oleh Syniehubov, the Kharkiv Oblast Governor, confirmed that a strike had caused digital television signal disruptions in the region.

According to preliminary information, the strike targeted a Ukrainian military air defense coordination device that had been installed on a TV tower in Kharkiv. The incident led to digital television signal interruptions in the city, but there were no reported casualties.

Viacheslav Zadorenko, the head of the city military administration, reported that two guided aerial bomb strikes had hit the outskirts of Derhachi, with one strike hitting an open area and another hitting a private residential area. Syniehubov also reported that the Russians had struck three settlements in the Kharkiv region, including the city of Vovchansk, where a guided aerial bomb hit the territory of a defunct meat processing plant, and the village of Slobozhanske, Kharkiv district, where there was a hit in an open area. No casualties were reported in these strikes.

On April 22, 2024, at around 4:30 p.m., the Russian Armed Forces launched a missile attack on a television infrastructure facility in Kharkiv, according to the Kharkiv Regional Prosecutor's Office. The attack was carried out with a Kh-59 missile. The Kharkiv Regional Prosecutor's Office has launched a pre-trial investigation into the violation of the laws and customs of war.

Why this matters: The strike on the television broadcasting tower in Kharkiv is part of a wider campaign by Russia to destroy Ukrainian infrastructure, particularly energy plants. The ongoing conflict in the Kharkiv region, where Ukraine has retaken large swaths of territory, faces the threat of a potential Russian offensive in the summer.

The attack on the television tower came as Russia announced the capture of a village near Vuhledar, a key battleground in the Donetsk region, where Ukrainian forces have been struggling to hold back Russian advances. Kyrylo Budanov, the head of Ukraine's military intelligence, warned that the situation on the front lines was likely to deteriorate in the coming weeks, though he added that the situation would not become "catastrophic". The US has approved $60 billion in aid for Ukraine, despite opposition from some Republican lawmakers, which President Volodymyr Zelensky has urged to be delivered quickly before any potential intensification of Russian attacks.

Key Takeaways

• Russian strike disrupted TV signals in Kharkiv, but no casualties were reported.
• Strikes hit the outskirts of Derhachi, Vovchansk, and Slobozhanske, no casualties.
• Russia attacked Kharkiv TV infrastructure with Kh-59 missile, investigation launched.
• Russia's attacks aim to destroy Ukrainian infrastructure, amid threat of summer offensive.
• US approved $60B in aid for Ukraine, despite some Republican opposition.