Russian forces launched another massive overnight attack on Kyiv, targeting civilian infrastructure including the headquarters of Channel 5, a Ukrainian television station. The studio was severely damaged, with broken windows, destroyed equipment, and wrecked workstations. This is the second time the broadcaster has been hit in a year, marking a recurring pattern of assaults against Ukrainian media.
The attack occurred on the night of July 5-6, 2026, intensifying the ongoing bombardment of the Ukrainian capital. Mykola Kniazhytskyi, a journalist and member of the Ukrainian parliament, confirmed the extent of the damage.
– As a result of Russian shelling of Kyiv, the headquarters of Channel 5 was damaged for the second time. The rooms are heavily destroyed, the studio is damaged. Part of the equipment is destroyed, and workstations in the newsroom were devastated – said Mykola Kniazhytskyi.
– This shelling is further evidence that Russia deliberately attacks Ukrainian media. It is a systematic policy aimed at destroying freedom of speech and the right of society to truthful information – he added.
Kniazhytskyi emphasized that protecting journalists must be a priority of state policy. He noted that a parliamentary investigative commission in Ukraine is actively working to document Russian crimes against journalists.
– During the annual session of the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly in The Hague, we will present the results of the investigative commission’s work. Together with international partners, we will discuss further steps to document Russia’s crimes against journalists, bring those responsible to justice, and strengthen international support for Ukrainian journalists held in Russian captivity – announced Kniazhytskyi.
Systematic targeting of Ukrainian media
This latest strike on Channel 5 follows a similar attack in July 2025, also targeting the same station. Ukrainian authorities view these repeated assaults as evidence of a deliberate strategy to silence independent reporting and undermine public access to reliable information. The destruction of media infrastructure is considered a war crime under international humanitarian law.
The Ukrainian parliament’s commission on documenting crimes against journalists continues to gather evidence. According to Kniazhytskyi, the findings will be presented to the international community during the OSCE PA session, aiming to hold Russia accountable for targeting media professionals and outlets.
The scale of the assault
The Russian military employed a large arsenal in the attack on Kyiv. The Ukrainian Air Force reported that 68 missiles and 351 combat drones were launched. Air defense systems successfully intercepted 363 out of 419 aerial targets. However, 29 missiles and 18 drones struck 34 different locations across the city, causing casualties and damage. Additionally, debris from intercepted drones fell in 16 locations.
Casualty figures remain uncertain, but initial reports indicate at least a dozen people killed and dozens wounded. The attack also prompted the Operational Command of the Armed Forces of Ukraine to scramble fighter jets over Poland as a precautionary measure. The exact number of jets and their mission details were not disclosed.
Kyiv is still reeling from a previous massive assault on the night of July 1-2, when Russia used 74 missiles and 496 drones. Ukrainian forces managed to neutralize 48 missiles and 476 drones, but 25 ballistic missiles and 12 drones hit 33 sites. The sustained bombardment has put immense strain on the city’s defenses and civilian population.
Źródło: Polsatnews.pl, Fot. Polsatnews.pl
