Towers down: Russia's strikes on Ukraine's broadcasting, 2022–2026

On the sixth day of the full-scale invasion Russia's Ministry of Defence announced strikes on Kyiv's broadcasting 'for the purpose of foiling information attacks against Russia'. That afternoon missiles hit the Kyiv TV tower beside the Babyn Yar memorial and killed five passers-by. Two weeks later a missile strike on the TV tower near Rivne killed 21 people. In April 2024 a Kh-59 missile brought down the top of Kharkiv's 245-metre TV mast. Three towers, one stated motive: what Ukraine's broadcasters say, not what they do in war.

Strikes on the Kyiv, Rivne and Kharkiv TV towers; 26 killed in Kyiv and Rivne — Tier B: State Emergency Service, regional administrations, prosecutors Broadcasting infrastructure struck across Ukraine, 2022–2026; 40 stations affected (ITU) — pattern Attacks on civilian objects; a propaganda function alone is not a lawful ground — hub inference, position

Russia said. Russian Ministry of Defence · 1 Mar 2022: “For the purpose of foiling information attacks against Russia, strikes with high-precision weapons will be carried out against the Security Service of Ukraine's technological facilities and the 72nd main center of psychological and information operations in Kyiv.” — Self-incriminating: the stated aim is not a lawful ground for attack. Five passers-by were killed at the Kyiv TV tower the same afternoon. The ICTY committee that reviewed NATO's 1999 strike on Serbian state television found that disrupting propaganda is unlikely to offer the 'concrete and direct' military advantage required (Final Report, 2000, para. 76); AP I limits attacks to objects whose destruction offers 'a definite military advantage' (art. 52(2)).

Evidence held: ITU, activities under Council Resolution 1408; Fifth Rapid Damage and Needs Assessment (World Bank, UN, European Commission, Government of Ukraine), Feb 2026; State Emergency Service, 1 Mar 2022; Rivne regional administration (V. Koval), 15–16 Mar 2022.