Ukraine commits ‘nuclear terrorism’ over Zaporizhzhia plant: Russia

Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu said on Tuesday that Ukraine continued to shell the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant, deliberately creating the threat of a possible nuclear catastrophe.

Shoigu said Russian forces were taking “all measures” to ensure the safety of the power plant, the largest in Europe, in the face of what he called “nuclear terrorism” from Kiev.

Ukraine denies shelling the facility, which has been under the control of Russian forces since the early days of the war, and accuses Russia of firing at it.

“Our units are taking all measures to ensure the safety of the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant,” Shoigu told his military leaders on a conference call, an abridged transcript of which was published by the defense ministry.

“In turn, the Kiev regime is trying to create the appearance of a threat of nuclear catastrophe by continuing to deliberately bomb the site,” he added.

Shoigu said Ukraine had fired 33 large-caliber shells at the plant in the past two weeks. Most had been intercepted by Russian air defenses, he said, although “some still hit objects that endanger the safe operation of the nuclear plant”.

“We classify these attacks by Ukrainian forces as nuclear terrorism,” he added.

Reuters was unable to independently verify the claims.

Both Moscow and Kiev blame each other for attacks on the facility. Kiev has also accused Moscow of using the factory as a de facto arms depot.

The United Nations’ nuclear watchdog – the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) – is pushing for the creation of a safety zone around the plant, fearing a possible Chernobyl-like disaster.

Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov said on Tuesday there was “positive momentum” in talks with the IAEA on the idea, the TASS news agency reported.

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