Ukraine denies Russian claims of attack on Zaporozhye nuclear power plant

Kiev has denied Russian claims that Ukraine was behind Sunday’s drone attack on the Russian-controlled Zaporizhia nuclear power plant that injured three people, one of them seriously.

“Ukraine is not involved in any form of armed provocation against the territory of the Zaporozhye nuclear power plant illegally occupied by Russia,” Andrei Yusov, spokesman for the General Intelligence Service of Ukraine, told Ukrainian journalists.

“Russian attacks on Ukrainian nuclear power plants, including copycat attacks… have long been a well-known criminal act by intruders,” he said on the messaging app Telegram.

Earlier on Sunday, Russia accused Ukraine of attacking multiple locations at the Russian-controlled Zaporizhia nuclear power plant, including the dome of the reactor that was inactive on Sunday, injuring three workers. Zaporizhia Nuclear Power Plant is the largest nuclear power plant in Europe.

Russia’s state-owned nuclear agency Rosatom called the series of attacks on the plant “unprecedented.”

An official from the United Nations’ nuclear watchdog said on X (original Twitter) that nuclear power plant officials had notified the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) of the attack. The plant came under Russian control shortly after the war in Ukraine broke out in 2022.

“ZNPP has informed IAEA experts that a drone exploded at the site today. This explosion is consistent with IAEA observations,” the agency posted on X.

The U.N. nuclear watchdog said on social media platform

The facility is located near a war zone, and Ukraine and Russia have often accused each other of attacking the plant and risking a possible nuclear disaster.

Reuters was unable to verify battlefield reports from either side.

Meanwhile, three people were killed on Sunday when Russian shelling hit the frontline village of Hulyapol in Ukraine’s southeastern Zaporozhye region.

“Two men and a woman died under the rubble of their houses in Russian shelling,” Ivan Fedorov, the region’s local governor, said on Telegram.

One other person was injured, he said.

Reuters was also unable to independently verify the report.

In a nighttime video address on Sunday, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky reiterated his call for more air defense systems such as Patriot missiles, surface-to-air missiles capable of intercepting air strikes.

Zelensky said that a series of recent Russian air strikes on cities such as Kharkiv and Kupyansk, as well as cities in the Donetsk, Zaporozhye and Sumy regions, highlighted the need for more air defense in Ukraine. system.

“The only thing needed is the political will to transfer these systems to Ukraine. I express my gratitude to those countries that have already provided help.” He said.

peace summit

Zelensky expressed hope on Sunday that he and Swiss President Viola Ahmed would be able to schedule a date for a world peace summit in Switzerland on the war in Ukraine in the coming days.

“We expect 80 to 100 countries.” He added, “I believe there are that many countries that can at least try to force Russia to make a fair peace.”

Russia pointed out that if it is not invited to participate in the negotiations, such a summit will be fruitless.

Russia says any peace in Ukraine must recognize Moscow’s control of about a fifth of the country and include a broader agreement on European security.

Ukraine says it will not rest until all Russian soldiers withdraw from its territory.

Fighting around Chasif Yar

A Ukrainian artillery brigade spokesman on Sunday described the fighting around the frontline city of Chasiv Yar in eastern Ukraine as a “difficult end to tensions” but added that Russian troops were now “in retreat”.

Oleg Kalashnikov said in an interview with Ukrainian television that the Russian army was “using infantry supported by armored fighting vehicles” and “warplanes.”

“But all their attacks have been repelled. They are retreating,” he added.

Kalashnikov, spokesman for the army brigade deployed in the region, stressed on Sunday the strategic importance of Chasiv Yar. He said that if Russian troops captured the destroyed town of Chasiv Yar, which had a population of 13,000 before the invasion and now has only 770 left, they would be able to advance towards other Ukrainian towns in the Donetsk region.

Chasiv Yar sits on a hill west of the ruins of the Russian-occupied city of Bahmut.

Information for this report was obtained in part from Reuters, the Associated Press and AFP.