Ukrainian state nuclear company
Energoato
m said today that Russian forces plan to shut down the power blocks of the
Zaporizhzhi
a
nuclear power plant
and disconnect them from the Ukrainian electricity grid.
The Ukrinform website reports it.
"We have information that the Russian occupation forces are planning to shut down the power blocks of the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant and disconnect them from the Ukrainian electricity grid. The
Russian army
is currently looking for
supplies of fuel
for the diesel generators that should be turned on .
"after the stop, to power the cooling systems.
Ukrainian intelligence also received new confirmation of reports of Russian preparations for a "large-scale provocation".
A CNN VIDEO SHOWS RUSSIAN MILITARY VEHICLES IN THE ZAPORIZHZHIA CENTRAL
A new video circulating online shows the presence of Russian military vehicles parked inside the turbine hall connected to one of the reactors of the Ukrainian nuclear power plant of Zaporizhizia, occupied by Moscow troops and at the center of international attention due to the fear of catastrophic accidents: CNN writes it, adding that it has geolocated and authenticated the video.
However, it is not clear when the images were shot.
In them - CNN writes - you can see two rows of Russian military trucks, of which at least five are visible, one of which with the symbol "
Z
"painted on the hood, parked in the turbine room about 130 meters from the corresponding nuclear reactor, one of the six at the plant. Also visible is something that looks like a tent and some pallets of different sizes of which, CNN writes, the purpose is not clear .
Moscow has so far said that the military equipment present in the plant concerns only the guard service
and yesterday the Russian Defense Ministry said that satellite images clearly show that in the plant "there are no weapons, especially heavy ones".
Ukraine, on the other hand, accuses the Russian army of firing from inside the plant, making it a shield - accusations, these rejected by Russia - and also of mistreating the Ukrainian personnel assigned to the operation of the nuclear plant, the largest in Europe, which in days it should be visited by experts from the IAEA, the UN agency for nuclear energy.
US: "RUSSIA DESPIRES NUCLEAR SAFETY"
The
United States
is "aware of reports that the Russian military abused" the personnel of the Ukrainian nuclear power plant in Zaporizhzhia.
This was stated by the spokesman for the US State Department,
Ned Price
, condemning "Russia's reckless contempt for
nuclear safety
".
The State Department reiterated the need for officials of the IAEA, the International Atomic Energy Agency, to be guaranteed access to the plant as soon as possible.
WHAT IS HAPPENING ON THE FIELD
Meanwhile, Russian troops, constantly bombing
Kharkiv
, are trying to limit the actions of Ukrainian forces so that they cannot launch counterattacks in other directions.
Ukrinform reports it citing the latest intelligence update published on
by the British Ministry of Defense.
Russian forces keep pressure on the Kharkiv sector relatively lightly, but continue to conduct local raids and probing attacks on Ukrainian forces.
They are probably trying to force
Ukraine
to maintain significant forces on this front, to prevent them from being used as a counterattack force elsewhere, "
British intelligence
writes . It adds that although the front line in this area has moved little since May, the second Ukrainian city has been one of the most constantly bombed since the invasion began, when Russian forces were likely aiming to reach the suburbs within 24 hours. "Kharkiv is about 15 km from the Russian front line and remains within range of most Russian artillery shells.
Multiple rocket launchers and generally inaccurate area weapons have wreaked havoc across much of the city, "the report reads.
Meanwhile
, the death toll is worsening
: at least 19 people have been killed, including a child, and 44 injured in the recent Russian attacks of 17 and 18 August in Kharkiv.
Kharkiv Oblast Police Chief
Volodymyr Tymoshko
said rescuers are looking for people under the rubble of a dormitory destroyed in the attacks.
Police believe there are two other people under the rubble.
The Kyiv Independent website reports it.
