Mutual allegations
Moscow and Kiev warn of an impending attack on Zaporizhia
07/04/2023 11:28 p.m
Russia claims that Ukraine wants to attack the Zaporizhia nuclear power plant – and that tonight. The general staff in Kiev, on the other hand, warns that the Russian occupiers planted warheads on the roofs to simulate a false flag attack.
Moscow and Kiev are accusing each other of an imminent attack on the Zaporizhia nuclear power plant in southern Ukraine. Already that night, the Ukrainian armed forces would try to attack the nuclear power plant with rockets and drones, Renat Karchaa, adviser to the head of the Russian atomic energy agency, Rosenergoatom, claimed on state television. The Ukrainian General Staff in turn wrote in his daily situation report about alleged explosive devices on the roof of the nuclear power plant, the explosion of which was intended to give the impression of being shelled.
According to the situation report of the Ukrainian general staff, the explosive devices were attached to the roofs of the third and fourth reactor blocks today, but are probably not intended to damage the reactors themselves. It should look like Ukraine is attacking the nuclear power plant. At the same time, the military leadership in Kiev emphasized that Ukraine would not violate the norms of international law. This is exactly what Karchaa accuses the Ukrainians of. Accordingly, not only should the nuclear power plant be shot at, but a bomb containing nuclear waste should also be dropped at the same time. The high-ranking Moscow official did not provide any evidence to prove his accusation.
IAEA finds no evidence of mines
Russian troops have occupied the Zaporizhia nuclear power plant in southern Ukraine since March 2022. The nuclear facility came under fire several times during the fighting, raising international concerns about a nuclear catastrophe. The plant has now been shut down for safety reasons. An observer mission from the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) is permanently on site. Both warring parties repeatedly accuse each other of planned provocations around the power plant. Recently, these accusations have steadily intensified. Last week, the Ukrainian military intelligence service SBU declared that Russia had mined the nuclear power plant and was planning a terrorist attack there.
The IAEA then said at the end that they had not found any signs of mining by the Russian occupiers. However, the team has not yet been given access to some areas of the facility, said IAEA boss Rafael Grossi. Parts of the turbine halls and the cooling system still have to be inspected.