Russia 'bombing TV towers' to cut Ukrainians off from internet and vital broadcasts

Russia may be targeting Ukrainian communications to cut off civilians internet and access to news as their invasion continues, the MoD has said.

Vladimir Putin's attack on Ukraine has now stretched into its 12th day, with his forces indiscriminately bombing civilian areas, showing little signs of stopping.

Putin has so far made limited progress in taking Ukraine, and intelligence has suggested he is trying to cut off communications to the outside world in an effort to move forward.

It was reported on Sunday that a TV tower in the city of Kharkiv was hit, suspending the broadcast signal.

The attack follows a similar incident on 1 March, in which Russian forces struck the TV tower in Kyiv and a nearby Holocaust memorial. At least five people were killed in the attack.

A tweet from the MoD said: "Russia is probably targeting Ukraine’s communications infrastructure in order to reduce Ukrainian citizens’ access to reliable news and information.

Watch: Zelenskyy warns of 'day of judgement' after evacuation routes are targeted

"Russia reportedly struck a TV tower in Kharkiv yesterday, suspending broadcasting output. This follows a similar strike on a TV tower in Kyiv on 01 March 2022.

"Ukrainian internet access is also highly likely being disrupted as a result of collateral damage from Russian strikes on infrastructure. Over the past week, internet outages have been reported in Mariupol, Sumy, Kyiv and Kharkiv."

Head of Kharkiv Regional Military Administration, Oleh Syniohubov, confirmed the TV tower had been damaged in the attack, the Interfax News Agency reported.

"In Kharkiv, as a result of an attack by a Russian enemy, a television tower was damaged. Television broadcasting was suspended for a while," he said.

Siniohubov added: "According to a representative of the Broadcasting, radio communication and television concern, there is no signal yet. They will work on restoration, which will be announced later."

Russia has continued its assault on Ukraine over the weekend.

Despite calling a ceasefire, Russia was accused of continuing to shell an area which was established as a humanitarian corridor on Saturday.

The MoD said the move likely a ploy to distract attention away from Russia resetting forces for a renewed attack.

A second attempt to evacuate the city of Mariupol was called off on Sunday, with Ukrainian authorities saying the Russians had not adhered to an agreement to suspend hostilities until the evening.

The city council said they had planned to evacuate 200,000 people from the area - half the population.

A third attempt at a humanitarian corridor has been agreed for 7am UK time on Monday for people to evacuate out of surrounded cities including Mariupol, Kharkiv, Sumy and Kyiv.

The humanitarian corridors are being opened at the request of French President Emmanuel Macron, according to the Interfax news agency.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy vowed Ukraine will "not forget" the killing of civilians.

Speaking in a late-night Sunday address to mark the Orthodox Christian holiday of "Forgiveness Sunday", Zelenskyy spoke of a family of four who were among eight killed while trying to flee the city of Irpin on Sunday.

He told Ukrainians: "We will not forgive the destroyed houses. We will not forgive the missile that our air defence shot down over Okhmatdyt today.

"And more than five hundred other such missiles that hit our land in Ukraine, our people, our children.

"We will not forgive the shooting of unarmed people. Destruction of our infrastructure.

"We cannot forgive the hundreds upon hundreds of victims. Nor the thousands upon thousands who have suffered.

"God will not forgive. Not today. Not tomorrow. Never.

"And instead of forgiveness, there will be a day of judgement."

More to follow...