Russia Targets Mobile Towers — Civilian Impact and Regional Security Concerns
In border regions of Ukraine, particularly in Chernihiv, Sumy, and Kharkiv areas, there has been a noticeable campaign by Russian forces to destroy mobile communication base stations.
Ukrainian radio-electronic and telecommunications expert Sergey Beskrestnov, who operates the Telegram channel “Communication from Sergey Flesh,” explains that these destructions serve a strategic purpose: Russian drones and UAVs monitor the situation and believe that what they see are only mobile communication antennas, without any military significance.
This poses a significant threat to thousands of Ukrainian civilians, especially pensioners, who rely on mobile phones for daily communication.
The targeted attacks result in the destruction of multi-story buildings and damage to communication towers — such incidents have also occurred in Kherson region, where occupiers damaged residential buildings and telecommunications infrastructure, leading to casualties and destruction.
Experts emphasize that destroying mobile towers severely hampers local residents’ ability to stay connected.
Meanwhile, Ukrainian technicians continue to repair the damaged networks, risking their safety, as they often have to work under the constant threat of drone attacks, which can strike unexpectedly during repair work.
Despite these dangers, they persist, knowing how crucial maintaining communication is during wartime, especially when mobile networks are often the only reliable source of information and connection.
It is worth noting that Ukrainian authorities have previously stated that mobile operators do not plan to disable mobile communication during alarms, prioritizing the safety and information needs of citizens during this challenging period.