According to reports, two teams of Ukrainian commandos landed close to the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power station in an effort to take over control of the facility from Russia.
Our source According to information cited by the Russian Defense Ministry, Ukraine dispatched two squadrons of commandos totaling roughly 60 men to land close to the region of the Russian-controlled Zaporizhzhia nuclear power facility in the South. As a result, on September 1, early in the morning, this squad of commandos crossed the Kakhovka reservoir using 7 boats, arriving in a location about 3 kilometres from the factory.
To stop the Ukrainian commandos, the Russian military moved swiftly.
According to the Russian Defense Ministry, Ukraine started bombarding the city of Energodar, which houses the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power facility, around two hours after the commandos touched down.
“The IAEA delegation meeting location in the city and vicinity of the plant came under fire from Ukrainian forces at around 8 a.m. on the same day. Nearby the plant, 400 metres, four shells burst “It read in the statement.
According to Moscow, these actions of Kiev are aimed at disrupting the IAEA’s inspection trip to the nuclear plant, which has been continuously shelled in recent times.
Kiev has not yet commented on the allegation.
Zaporizhzhia is the largest nuclear power plant in Europe. Russia has taken control of the city of Energodar and the plant since mid-March, shortly after launching a special military operation in Ukraine.
In August, the Zaporizhzhia factory was repeatedly shelled or attacked by drones. Russia and Ukraine blame each other for the attacks. Kiev accuses Moscow of using the factory as a military base, sending heavy weapons there. However, Moscow insists that it only sends a group of soldiers to guard the factory.
Today, the IAEA delegation began an inspection of the Zaporizhzhia plant in an effort to avoid a nuclear disaster amid the escalation of hostilities in Ukraine. According to sources from some Russian officials, the delegation may send 6 or 8 employees to stay at the factory after the inspection trip.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said that it is necessary for IAEA inspectors to visit the Zapozhiazhia nuclear power plant and that Russia is ready to cooperate with the IAEA delegation. Peskov also emphasized the reduction of military tension at the Zapozhiazhia nuclear power plant for the safety of the whole of Europe.
This is also the desire of Ukraine and European authorities. During a meeting with the Director General of the IAEA, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said that control of the plant should be returned to the country and Russia must withdraw from the plant.
Some US defense officials, meanwhile, want to completely shut down the plant, fearing the risk of further attacks on Zaporizhzhia. However, a complete shutdown could expose Ukrainians to power shortages, especially as winter approaches.
