The Ukrainian Defense Forces categorically denied the accusations from the Russian Federation regarding the alleged shelling of the Zaporizhzhia Thermal Power Plant by the Ukrainian side, calling them yet another information manipulation.
This is reported by Finway
Russian Fakes Regarding Attacks on Zaporizhzhia TPP
According to the military, the dissemination of reports by Russian propaganda about the shelling of the Zaporizhzhia TPP, located near the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant, is an attempt to influence the IAEA and justify their own military presence at critical energy facilities. The occupiers claim that the actions of the Ukrainian Defense Forces supposedly create a danger to the station’s energy supply, however, the Ukrainian military rejects these accusations.
“The Russian reports about the shelling of the Zaporizhzhia TPP, located near the ZNPP, are a manipulation and an attempt to influence the IAEA. The occupiers state that the actions of the Ukrainian Defense Forces pose a threat to the station’s energy supply,” the statement reads.
Threats to Nuclear Safety Due to Occupation
The Southern Defense Forces emphasized that all statements from the IAEA regarding the danger at the Zaporizhzhia TPP only confirm that the main cause of risks to nuclear and radiation safety remains the Russian occupation of the station. The presence of Russian troops, weaponry, and military infrastructure on and near the site has turned the largest nuclear power plant in Europe into a military foothold. This, according to the military, is absolutely unacceptable.
The Ukrainian military stressed that the Armed Forces of Ukraine do not strike at nuclear energy facilities and critical infrastructure, the functioning of which is linked to the safety of nuclear sites. On the contrary, the Russian Federation systematically uses the temporarily occupied territory of the Zaporizhzhia NPP for nuclear blackmail.
The military once again emphasized that Ukraine strictly adheres to the norms of international humanitarian law and does not undertake any actions that could pose a threat to nuclear safety.
As noted by the Southern Defense Forces, the only way to restore nuclear and radiation safety at the Zaporizhzhia NPP is its complete demilitarization, withdrawal of Russian troops, and return of the station under Ukraine’s control.
It is worth noting that the IAEA expressed serious concern over the attack near the Zaporizhzhia Thermal Power Plant, which could jeopardize the only power line supplying electricity to the temporarily occupied Zaporizhzhia NPP.