UN agency: The safety of the Zaporizhia nuclear power plant is at risk

2023-09-09 14:46:00, Kosova & Bota CNA

The International Atomic Energy Agency warned of a possible nuclear threat, due to the increased intensity of fighting near the largest nuclear power plant in Europe, which is located in Ukraine.

On Saturday, Ukrainian forces continued to push forward with their counterattack with the aim of pushing back Russian troops even further.

The United Nations agency said its experts based in the Russian-occupied Zaporizhia power station reported hearing multiple explosions over the past week, an indication of increased military activity in the area. But officials have not reported any damage to the plant.

The agency has repeatedly expressed concern that the fighting could cause a potential radiation leak from the facility, which is one of the world's 10 largest nuclear power plants.

As Ukrainian forces press to advance even further, the UK Ministry of Defense noted in its latest report that Russia has brought in reinforcements to impede the Ukrainian advance.

"It is very likely that Russia has redeployed forces from other areas of the front line to replace the heavily damaged units around Robotyne," the statement said. "These developments are likely to limit Russia's ability to conduct offensive operations along other frontline areas," it added.

The Washington-based Institute for War Studies noted that the Russian military has made significant changes to its command and control structure to "protect command infrastructure and improve information sharing."

Russian forces have continued artillery attacks across Ukraine. Regional authorities in the northeastern region of Sumy, which borders Russia, said that as a result of the latest attacks from Moscow, four people were injured, one of whom later died in hospital.

The Kremlin reaffirmed on Saturday that Russia will not extend a landmark agreement that allowed Ukraine to safely export grain through the Black Sea until the West fully meets Moscow's demands.

Ukraine and its Western allies have dismissed the Kremlin's demands as a tactic for Russia to advance its interests.

On Saturday, Japanese Foreign Minister Yoshimasa Hayashi arrived in Ukraine for an official visit. He visited a church on the outskirts of Kiev, in Bucha, where some of the worst atrocities of the war took place.

"I am grateful to Japan for remaining our main partner in Asia and supporting Ukraine," said Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy./ Voa