RUSSIA BLAMES UKRAINIAN ‘SABOTEURS’ FOR THE ATTACK ON THE ZAPORIZHZHIA NUCLEAR POWER PLANT

Fri 04 March 2022:

Following the attack on Ukraine’s nuclear power plant, Russia blamed the explosion on Ukrainian “saboteurs,” labeling it a “monstrous provocation.”

“Last night on the territory adjacent to the power plant, an attempt was made by the Kyiv nationalist regime to carry out a monstrous provocation,” Russia’s defence ministry said.

The defense ministry also stated that the nuclear reactor was operational and that the area has been under Russian control since February 28.

After Russian forces attacked the nuclear power facility, UK Foreign Secretary Liz Truss requested an emergency meeting of the UN Security Council. According to the IAEA, the incident at the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power station did not harm “essential” equipment.

However, Russian defence ministry spokesman Igor Konashenkov alleged that “at about 2 am during a patrol of guarded territory adjacent to the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant, a mobile patrol of the National Guard came under attack from a Ukrainian sabotage group”.

“To provoke return fire on the building, heavy small arms fire was opened on Russian National Guard servicemen from the windows of several floors of a training complex located outside the power plant,” he said.

According to Igor Konashenkov, the “sabotage group” left the training complex after the Russian patrol group returned fire to prevent the attack after it was set on fire.

The IAEA said the training facility at the nuclear site at Zaporizhzhia which was hit was not part of the plant’s reactors. Russia had earlier seized the Chernobyl nuclear plant on February 24.

“Currently, the staff of Zaporizhzhya NPP continues to work as usual, maintains the NPP facilities and monitors the radioactive situation. The radioactive background in the area of the nuclear power plant is normal,” the defence ministry spokesman added.

SOURCE: INDEPENDENT PRESS AND NEWS AGENCIES

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