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Ukraine claims that Russia plans to fake a major nuclear accident at the Zaporizhzhia power plant and force a ceasefire
Ukraine said Russia hoped an accident at the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant would require a ceasefire and thwart Ukraine's counteroffensive.
www.businessinsider.com
5.27.23
Ukraine's defense ministry has warned that Russia is planning to simulate a major accident at the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant (ZNPP) in order to thwart Ukraine's imminently expected counteroffensive. The plant in southern Ukraine is Europe's largest and has been under Russian control since last year. "Russians are preparing massive provocation and imitation of the accident at the Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant in the nearest hours," the Ukrainian defense ministry's intelligence directorate said on social media on Friday. "They are planning to attack the territory of the ZNPP. After that, they will announce the leakage of the radioactive substances," it said. The department claimed that Russia hopes to trigger an international investigation which would require a ceasefire, allowing Russia to use the break in fighting to better prepare for Ukraine's counteroffensive. It did not provide any evidence for its claims. "They obviously will blame Ukraine," the Ukrainian department said.
Ukraine is expected to soon start its long-anticipated counteroffensive to retake territory occupied by Russia, including in the Zaporizhzhia region. Fighting has continually raged around the power plant, and both Russia and Ukraine have blamed each other for dangerous incidents of shelling hitting the site. It was reported last week that Russian military forces had been enhancing defensive positions around the power plant ahead of the expected counteroffensive. One of Ukraine's most senior security officials, Oleksiy Danilov, told the BBC on Saturday that Ukraine was ready to begin the counteroffensive and that it could begin "tomorrow, the day after tomorrow or in a week."The UN International Atomic Energy Agency has previously warned about the risks of "a severe nuclear accident" at the plant due to ongoing fighting.
The Russians have held the Ukrainian physicists and engineers at the Enerhodar nuclear facility hostage for over a year.
In essence, they have made this nuclear facility - the largest in Europe - a Russian military base.
IAEA Chief Outlines Principles To Prevent Nuclear Catastrophe At Zaporizhzhya
UN nuclear watchdog chief Rafael Grossi has urged Ukraine and Russia to adhere to five principles to prevent nuclear catastrophe at Ukraine's Zaporizhzhya Nuclear Power Plant.
www.rferl.org