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Russia has accused Ukraine of carrying out a drone attack near the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant, further escalating tensions between the two nations. Russian reports indicate that a drone released an explosive device on a road near the plant, putting the safety of the plant’s staff, who frequently travel on that route, at risk. The Russian management of the Zaporizhzhia plant confirmed the incident on Saturday, as reported by the TASS news agency.
The Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant, the largest in Europe, has been under Russian control since the early stages of its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. The plant has remained dormant amid the ongoing conflict, with both Moscow and Kyiv accusing each other of attempting to sabotage its operations and jeopardizing the safety of the surrounding area. Although inactive, the plant’s six reactors are situated perilously close to the front lines and rely on external power to maintain the cooling of nuclear materials, which is crucial to preventing a catastrophic incident.
This latest attack adds to the growing concerns over the security of the plant, which has been a focal point of tension throughout the war. Ukraine, on the other hand, has been continuing its military operations in Russian-controlled regions. Ukrainian forces claim to have gained control of 82 settlements across 1,150 square kilometres (444 square miles) in the Kursk region since August 6, as they push deeper into Russian territory.
In response to the incident, Roman Ustinov, Russia’s acting representative in Vienna, stated that Moscow intends to raise the matter with the leadership of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). He emphasized the importance of discussing the recent attack on the Zaporizhzhia plant and urged the IAEA to issue a stern warning to Ukraine against repeating such actions.