--- title: "Russian Strikes On Ukrainian Cities Continue With Attack Near Kyiv’s Famous TV Tower" description: "There are growing fears that Russian forces are laying the groundwork for a major assault into Ukraine's capital." date: "2022-03-01" modified: "2022-03-01" authors: - name: "Joseph Trevithick" job_title: "Deputy Editor" link: "https://www.twz.com/authors/joseph-trevithick" url: "https://www.twz.com/44512/russian-strikes-on-ukrainian-cities-continue-with-attack-near-kyivs-famous-tv-tower" categories: - "Around The Globe" - "Artillery" - "Europe" - "Land" - "News & Features" - "Russia" - "Ukraine" tags: - "artillery" - "barrage" - "Convoy" - "explosion" - "Kharkiv" - "Kyiv" - "Regional State Administrative Building" - "russia" - "Ukraine" - "updates" - "War In Ukraine" --- # Russian Strikes On Ukrainian Cities Continue With Attack Near Kyiv’s Famous TV Tower ![]() *www.twz.com* The Russian military's new campaign of targeting urban areas in Ukraine now includes a strike near Kyiv's iconic TV Tower. This follows a statement from the Russian Ministry of Defense announcing planned strikes against multiple targets in the Ukrainian capital and warning residents to flee their homes. This all comes amid continued fears that Russia is softening up the city for a major assault. Before diving into the latest news on this conflict below, you can find out what has happened already today in our earlier rolling coverage [here](). ## The Latest: ***UPDATED—*** Our updates to this story have come to a close. You can find our continuing rolling coverage [here](). ***UPDATED: 6:00 PM EST —*** The issue of nuclear weapons has come to the fore since Russian President Vladimir Putin put Russia’s nuclear deterrence forces on high alert [two days ago](), in a clear sign of brinkmanship directed toward NATO. Now, Adm. Charles Richard, commander of U.S. Strategic Command has confirmed that the United States will not alter its nuclear posture, saying "I have made no recommendations to make any changes and part of that is because right is ... our nuclear command and control is in its most defended, most resilient lineup that it's ever been in, in its history." https://twitter.com/\_/status/1498761680569917443 Meanwhile, in terms of conventional weapons, the Ukrainian Armed Forces are continuing to capture a wide variety from Russia, including a BMD-2 airborne infantry fighting vehicle, together with examples of the 9M113 Konkurs anti-tank guided missile that constitutes part of its armament. Interestingly, the vehicle in question also appears to be equipped with a counter-IED system. https://twitter.com/\_/status/1498771390337540096 This Russian Pantsir-S1 surface-to-air missile and anti-aircraft artillery system is also among the equipment that has apparently been abandoned and then destroyed by the defending forces: https://twitter.com/\_/status/1498765920503746565 https://twitter.com/\_/status/1498780289073664009 In what would be a significant breakthrough for the Russians, reports are also now coming in that their forces have captured the city of Kherson at the mouth of the Dnieper River, which has been the scene of fighting for at least the last four days. https://twitter.com/\_/status/1498792095192174593 ***UPDATED: 3:30 PM EST —*** The Ukrainian Air Force says that at least one Russian Tu-22M Backfire bomber was involved in the strike on Kharkiv on February 28. ![message-editor%2F1646164917688-tu-22-ukraine-attack.jpg]() **via Facebook** https://twitter.com/\_/status/1498730008029900805 A video has appeared on social media that was reportedly taken by a drone flying near Ukraine's southern port city of Mariupol and shows Ukrainian forces engaging Russian units. https://twitter.com/\_/status/1498751619130920964 A video, reportedly taken by an individual in an apartment building somewhere in Ukraine, has emerged that appears to show an incoming projectile hitting the structure after being fired by a tank down the street. https://twitter.com/\_/status/1498714564237615106 The Ukrainian military has released more [pictures of military aid]() that it has received recently. ![message-editor%2F1646165457475-ukrainian-aid.jpg]() **via Facebook** The Ukrainian Armed Forces has posted details on social media [about the likely meanings]() of different temporarily applied markings that have been seen on various invading Russian vehicles, as you can read more about [here](). A separate infographic shows how to tell the difference between [Russian and Ukrainian military helicopters](). ![message-editor%2F1646165636978-russian-military-markings.jpg]() **via Facebook** ![message-editor%2F1646165648432-aircraft-identification.jpg]() **via Facebook** The video below reportedly shows yet another instance of average Ukrainians protesting against Russian forces currently occupying certain parts of the country. https://twitter.com/\_/status/1498655849178402820 U.S. President Joe Biden has again spoken with his Ukrainian counterpart Zelensky. The White House official readout of that call is seen in the Tweet below. https://twitter.com/\_/status/1498731645595234312 The Kremlin appears to be shutting down some of the very last fully-independent media outlets in the country over their coverage of the invasion. The Russian government has worked hard to control the domestic narrative about what is happening in Ukraine, but has seen [significant anti-war protests]() in major cities already. https://twitter.com/\_/status/1498748347116630020 https://twitter.com/\_/status/1498744441519149058 In yet another indicator of the impacts of mounting U.S. and other foreign sanctions area already having on Russia, the Kremlin has reportedly banned individuals from withdrawing more than $10,000 in foreign currency from domestic accounts. The value of the ruble against the U.S. dollar continues to fall. https://twitter.com/\_/status/1498742114951258121 https://twitter.com/\_/status/1498745200813957132 https://twitter.com/\_/status/1498742600639172619 ***UPDATED: 1:20 PM EST —*** Ukrainian authorities now say that five civilians died in the attack near the Kyiv TV Tower. All of them were reportedly innocent bystanders. https://twitter.com/\_/status/1498715362115870721 https://twitter.com/\_/status/1498714840826851336 https://twitter.com/\_/status/1498717048624533510 It has been pointed out that the Kyiv TV Tower is situated in an area called Babi Yar or Babyn Yar, which was the site of an infamous massacre that the Nazis carried out during the Holocaust and is now a memorial to those who died there. Russia has attempted to paint its invasion of Ukraine as, among other things, an effort to "denazify" the country. https://twitter.com/\_/status/1498700240798601220 https://twitter.com/\_/status/1498698713677680646 There are unconfirmed reports that a Russian [Su-34 Fullback]() combat jet was at least damaged over Kyiv today based on a picture that appears to show a fragment of one of these jets lying on the ground. https://twitter.com/\_/status/1498712709247946755 The city of Kharkiv (Kharkov) continues to be under attack, as well. https://twitter.com/\_/status/1498713714119385091 https://twitter.com/\_/status/1498708608351186948 More footage has emerged online reportedly showing Russian forces in the southern city of Kherson. One appears to show a Russian BTR-82A wheeled armored vehicle under attack by Ukrainian Forces. https://twitter.com/\_/status/1498625804426792962 https://twitter.com/\_/status/1498714042155905031 In spite of all of this, there are reports that Ukrainian officials have agreed to hold [a second round of talks]() this week with their Russian counterparts with the aim of negotiating an end to the conflict, or at least an immediate ceasefire. This comes after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky had said that the Kremlin need to stop its strike before any such talks could occur. https://twitter.com/\_/status/1498698364422168576 There is still a steady flow of videos and pictures reportedly showing Ukrainian forces capturing or otherwise inspecting destroyed or abandoned Russian tanks, armored vehicles, and other materiel. A not-insignificant number of the vehicles in question show little to no obvious signs of damage, raising the possibility that they were abandoned after running out of fuel. https://twitter.com/\_/status/1498717712801054723 https://twitter.com/\_/status/1498703506898919429 https://twitter.com/\_/status/1498634962123345923 https://twitter.com/\_/status/1498676125786116099 At a meeting today of his Security Council, Belarusian dictator Alexander Lukashenko appears to have shown a map of planned Russian military operation in Ukraine that makes clear the that Kremlin has been executing a large-scale invasion. The lines of advance shown on the map line up perfectly with how Russian forces have been observed proceeding so far. https://twitter.com/\_/status/1498674777032114184 The U.S. military is supporting the delivery of humanitarian aid to Ukraine, as well as military aid, as seen in official pictures released today. https://twitter.com/\_/status/1498678517084663815 Earlier in the day, the European Parliament voted in favor of calling on the European Union to give Ukraine candidate status. This came after Ukrainian President Zelensky had reiterated his appeal for the bloc to admit the country as soon as possible, potentially using some kind of novel ascension mechanism. https://twitter.com/\_/status/1498705685885894669 https://twitter.com/\_/status/1498234200083865604 --- ***POSTED: 12:15 PM EST —*** An advisor to Ukraine's Interior Ministry has confirmed this was a Russian strike, saying that it targeted [the TV Tower](), which was completed in 1973 and is the second-tallest freestanding lattice tower in the world. However, pictures and video indicate that the weapon or weapons employed, which are unknown at this time, hit areas nearby. This could suggest that the tower itself might not have been the intended target. Regardless, Ukrainian authorities have said that there has been some disruption in broadcasting from the tower as a result. https://twitter.com/\_/status/1498685345197703175 https://twitter.com/\_/status/1498680564391497728 https://twitter.com/\_/status/1498679555816574995 https://twitter.com/\_/status/1498682023069818890 https://twitter.com/\_/status/1498680552106471425 https://twitter.com/\_/status/1498680030641238016 Earlier today, the Russian Defense Ministry had [publicly declared plans]() to strike targets related to the Security Service of Ukraine, also known by the acronym SBU, and the 72nd Center for Information and Psychological Operations, or PSO. The SBU is a national-level law-enforcement, counter-intelligence, and counter-terrorism organization. The PSO is a military [psychological warfare operations]() unit that is part of the Ukrainian Armed Forces' special operations community. "We urge Ukrainian citizens involved by Ukrainian nationalists in provocations against Russia, as well as Kiev \[Kyiv\] residents living near relay stations, to leave their homes," the Russian Defense Ministry's statement added. https://twitter.com/\_/status/1498648785442021376 Separately, Ukrainian Defense Minister Oleksii Reznikov had warned that the Kremlin was about to launch a major information and psychological warfare operation of its own, which would include targeting communications capabilities in the country. https://twitter.com/\_/status/1498676936385695755 https://twitter.com/\_/status/1498649975793848325 There continue to be concerns that the Kremlin is massing forces outside of Kyiv for a major attack on the city. However, a U.S. defense official has told reporters that a massive column north of the capital that has been seen in publicly available satellite imagery is moving very slowly and that it may be experiencing new supply chain issues. https://twitter.com/\_/status/1498687900132810753 https://twitter.com/\_/status/1498467692042461186 This all of course follows [the brazen Russian strike]() on the center of Kharkiv to the east earlier today, a city which the U.S. government says the Kremlin is still trying to encircle. Russian forces have continued to push elsewhere along their main lines of advance, as well. https://twitter.com/\_/status/1498685797284864015 The Russian Ministry of Defense earlier today claimed to have secured complete control over [Ukraine's Sea of Azov coastline](), something that has been a major goal from the beginning of the invasion. If true, this would give them an important land bridge between western Russia and occupied Crimea via areas of eastern Ukraine's Donbas region that [are nominally under the control]() of pro-Kremlin separatists. The U.K. Ministry of Defense has assessed that Russian forces have made significant advances in these areas in the past 24 hours, but are not in control of major population centers. A U.S. official has also said that Mariupol remains under Ukrainian control, but there is a growing risk of encirclement. There continues to be no sign of active operations aimed at Odesa or other areas of [Ukraine's Black Sea coastline]() to the west. https://twitter.com/\_/status/1498666642284425223 https://twitter.com/\_/status/1498689670581997569 https://twitter.com/\_/status/1498688147173134342 https://twitter.com/\_/status/1498686432650670082 https://twitter.com/\_/status/1498689973670793216 Still, fighting in and around many of these cities is clearly very active. Video footage has also emerged showing Russian troops in the city of Kherson, which has been a major focal point of Russia's advances north out of Crimea. https://twitter.com/\_/status/1498612104106029059 https://twitter.com/\_/status/1498672908939444267 https://twitter.com/\_/status/1498653854459744256 All told, the U.S. government now believes that the Kremlin has committed 80 percent of the forces it had positioned around Ukraine in recent months to the invasion. Russia has now fired at least 400 [ballistic and cruise missiles]() over the course of the conflict, according to a U.S. defense official. There continue to be reports of poor morale and logistical issues hampering the overall progress of Russian military operations in the country, though there is still an exception that the Kremlin will reorient itself after learning from its initial missteps. https://twitter.com/\_/status/1498688423267344391 https://twitter.com/\_/status/1498691334428893186 https://twitter.com/\_/status/1498685248095375362 https://twitter.com/\_/status/1498695683406237700 https://twitter.com/\_/status/1498694908521103361 The U.S. military says that it has assessed that the Russian military has deployed TOS-1A mobile rocket launch systems armed with thermobaric rockets, which you can read more about [here](), and that some of them are now in a position to be employed. There is no indication yet that these weapons have actually been used and one of them may already have fallen into Ukrainian hands. https://twitter.com/\_/status/1498685662337376261 https://twitter.com/\_/status/1498697710429425672 In the meantime, the U.S. and its NATO allies, among others, continue to send weapons and other military aid or announce plans to do so. The Ukrainian military announced today that it received additional shipments of [Stinger]() shoulder-fired surface-to-air missiles, [Javelin]() and [NLAW guided anti-tank missiles](), and [M141 SMAW-D]() single-shot, guided rocket launchers, among other things. https://twitter.com/\_/status/1498677225427767308 https://twitter.com/\_/status/1498687445545725957 https://twitter.com/\_/status/1498684583944114181 The U.S. government and officials from other NATO member countries continue to push against calls for more direct intervention into the conflict, including the possible establishment of a no-fly zone. U.K. Prime Minister Boris Johnson today laid out the potential risks of escalation that would result in enforcing such a zone, which would require a willingness to shoot down Russian aircraft. https://twitter.com/\_/status/1498679870666252296 https://twitter.com/\_/status/1498695995579936774 The U.S. government says that at least 500,000 Ukrainians have left the country since Russia's invasion began last week. Approximately 70 American nationals have crossed over into Poland, with the vast majority not needing any assistance after arriving there from U.S. military forces [that are deployed to assist]() those evacuating. https://twitter.com/\_/status/1498686880610717703 https://twitter.com/\_/status/1498686695927173126 https://twitter.com/\_/status/1498636871978598406 United Nations representatives from a large number of countries staged a walkout today as Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov was about to speak on the situation in Ukraine during a gathering of the U.N. Human Rights Council. https://twitter.com/\_/status/1498653219924422656 Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya, a Belarusian human rights activist who ran against long-time dictator Alexander Lukashenko for president of the country in 2020 and is now living in exile in Poland, tweeted new details about reported actions that activists still in Belarus are taking to try to disrupt that country's support for Russia's invasion. https://twitter.com/\_/status/1498638037873577991 Leo Varadkar, Ireland's deputy head of government, or Tánaiste, says that his country could reconsider its long-standing policies of neutrality in light of the conflict in Ukraine. Ireland joins a number of other historically neutral European countries that are now seeing shifting attitudes on these issues in the wake of Russia's invasion. https://twitter.com/\_/status/1498668775004061701 We will continue to update this story as more information becomes available. *C**ontact the author: joe@thedrive.com* ## Author Joseph is *TWZ’s* Deputy Editor, helping to oversee the site’s highly experienced and dedicated team, while also writing informative and impactful defense and national security content. He lives right in the thick of it in the Washington, D.C. area. ### Author social links [Twitter]() [Bluesky]()