The Ukrainian president said he had information that Moscow forces were considering launching a “terrorist attack” on the Russian-controlled Zaporizhia nuclear power plant. The goal, according to his adviser, would be to realize the scenario of a “sanitary zone”, a term coined by Vladimir Putin as a possible response to incursions into Russian territory by anti-Kremlin militias.
“Intelligence services have received reports that Russia is considering the scenario of a terrorist act at the Zaporizhia nuclear power plant, a terrorist act involving the release of radiation,” Volodymyr Zelensky said in a video.
Hours later, his adviser Mykhailo Podolyak explained Moscow’s alleged plans on Twitter: “Russia can take control of the [central de] Enerhodar in the medium term, and is therefore currently considering a large-scale terrorist attack on the nuclear power plant to halt the Ukrainian counter-offensive and create a gray and depopulated health zone for years to come as part of the status quo territory without ceasefire.”
Podolyak also accused the occupier, who seized the Zaporizh nuclear power plant in the first days of the invasion, of laying mines in the energy infrastructure, “including in the cooling tanks”.
In a statement on Wednesday, Rafael Grossi, director general of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), said he had not encountered any mines. However, he stated that the IAEA “is aware of mine-laying outside the perimeter of the plant in the past”, as well as “in certain areas inland – which plant security personnel stated was for defensive purposes “.
The Kremlin rejected Zelensky’s claims, citing a recent visit to Grossi’s buildings as evidence. ‘That’s another lie. She [AIEA] have seen everything, everything they wanted to see,” Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said.
Ten days ago, Putin said Russia would consider the possibility of creating a “sanitary zone” on the territory of Ukraine if Russian border regions remain the target of attacks, but without explaining the meaning and scope of such a measure.
Contrary to statements made by Zelensky and Podolyak, the head of Ukrainian military intelligence, in an interview prior to The economist, devalued an atomic apocalypse scenario. “I’m telling you straight: it’s not going to happen,” said Kyrylo Budanov. “For all my distaste for the Russian Federation, there aren’t many idiots running the country.”
On a military level, the day was marked by the bombing of a bridge connecting southern Ukraine to the annexed Crimean peninsula. “A blow to the military logistics of the occupiers,” said Yuriy Sobolevskyi of the Kherson government.
Source: DN
