Russian artillery strikes have targeted the Ukrainian city of Zaporizhzhia – just miles from the massive nuclear power plant of the same name, currently controlled by Putin’s forces. The Kyiv Independent tweeted: “Acting Mayor of Zaporizhzhia Anatoly Kurtev said a Russian strike on the city on Sept. 15 damaged the building of an enterprise, shattering the windows and causing a temporary blackout. No casualties were reported.”
Russian President Vladimir Putin told United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Wednesday that he welcomed “constructive” cooperation with the IAEA nuclear watchdog after its visit to Ukraine’s Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant, the Kremlin said.
However, that does not seem to have stopped his military commanders from attacking the nearby city, irrespective of the obvious risks of doing so.
On Monday, the last operating reactor at the Russian-held Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant in Ukraine was put into what is known as a cold shutdown after an external power line was restored, making it possible to shut it down more safely.
On Friday, Rafael Grossi, director-general of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), warned shelling had destroyed the switchyard of a nearby thermal power plant supplying the Zaporizhzhia power station.
Mr Grossi called for an “immediate cessation of all shelling in the entire area”, adding: “This is an unsustainable situation and is becoming increasingly precarious.”
On Monday he warned: “We cannot continue this situation where we are one step away from a nuclear accident.
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“The 330 kV and the 150 kV lines are being held in reserve.”
Zaporizhzhia was captured by Russia in the early stages of Putin’s invasion of Ukraine in February and was at one point reported to be one fire, prompting widespread alarm about the possibility of a nuclear catastrophe which would have major implications for the rest of Europe and the world in general.
Ukraine’s military has claimed Russian troops are trying to strengthen their defensive positions in the Donetsk and Zaporizhzhia regions.
Separately, Russian forces yesterday launched eight cruise missiles against the southern Ukrainian city of Kryvyi Rih, 80 miles to the west of Zaporizhzhia, in an apparent attempt to disrupt water supplies.
Kirill Timoshenko, the deputy head of the president’s office, said in an online post that there had been no civilian casualties in the attack.
However, Anton Gerashchenko, an adviser to the interior minister, later tweeted a video of what appeared to be a small bridge being washed away.
He commented: “Rockets were directed at hydraulic structures.
“This caused water level of the Inhulets river to increase, threatening the city.”
Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba tweeted: “Beaten by Ukrainian army on the battlefield, Russian cowards are now at war with our critical infrastructure and civilians.
“Russia is a terrorist state and must be recognised as such.”