Ukraine war

Ukrainians say nuclear plant again cut off from grid after Russian shelling

A view shows the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant in the course of Russia-Ukraine conflict outside Enerhodar in the Zaporizhzhia region, Russian-controlled Ukraine, October 14, 2022. REUTERS/Alexander Ermochenko/File Photo

Russian attacks were recorded across broad portions of Ukraine on Thursday, with shelling and missile strikes damaging infrastructure, including the supply of electricity to Europe's largest nuclear power plant, according to Ukrainian officials.

The Zaporizhzhia nuclear power station in southern Ukraine has been cut from the electrical grid once more after Russian shelling damaged the remaining high-voltage connections, leaving the plant with only diesel generators, according to the Ukraine nuclear corporation Energoatom.

Energoatom reported that the facility, which is under Russian hands but operated by Ukrainian personnel, had enough fuel to power its generators for 15 days. Its reactors require power to maintain the coolness of their fuel and prevent a meltdown.

According to a senior official in Moscow, Russian special troops thwarted a Ukrainian attack on the plant. In addition, Russian Security Council Secretary Nikolai Patrushev, a close supporter of President Vladimir Putin, stated that Ukrainian forces "continue to bombard the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power facility using Western weaponry, which could lead to a worldwide disaster."

Each side has regularly accused the other of shelling the facility, which both sides deny.

Russian strikes were also reported in the central Ukrainian city of Kriviy Rih, as well as the northeastern cities of Sumy and Kharkiv. Heavy fighting occurred in the eastern areas of Luhansk and Donetsk.

Thursday, Ukraine's general staff stated that the enemy is concentrating its efforts on restricting the actions of the Defense Forces in particular locations.

As part of what it calls its "special military operation" to degrade the Ukrainian military and eliminate what it calls a possible threat to Russia's security, Russia has reportedly targeted infrastructure.

In recent weeks, as a result, Ukrainian people have faced power outages and diminished water supply. Russia denies targeting civilians, even though thousands have been killed, millions have been displaced, and some Ukrainian cities are in ruins.

When they gather in Germany on Thursday, foreign ministers from the G7 group of wealthy democracies will debate how to coordinate more assistance for Ukraine.

British envoy summoned

The British ambassador was summoned to the foreign ministry in Moscow on Thursday morning in response to Russia's assertions that the United Kingdom was involved in a Ukrainian drone strike against Russia's Black Sea Fleet in Crimea.

A Reuters correspondent on the scene stated that Ambassador Deborah Bronnert was at the ministry for almost 30 minutes. Outside, a small mob yelled anti-British slogans and carried signs that said "Britain is a terrorist state."

Russia temporarily suspended participation in a U.N.-sponsored Black Sea Grain Initiative on Saturday, citing a large drone attack on warships in the Bay of Sevastopol on the 2014-annexed Crimean peninsula.

Russia's defense ministry asserted that the attack was led and directed by British navy specialists, a claim that Britain has refuted as incorrect.

Putin has also implicated the United Kingdom in September's attacks on the Nord Stream pipelines, which have rendered the multibillion-dollar gas pipeline between Russia and Europe inoperable, potentially permanently.

Russia resumed participation in the grain arrangement allowing Ukraine to resume exports on Wednesday after Turkey and the United Nations helped keep food moving for several days without Russian oversight.

Russia's defense ministry stated that it had received assurances from Ukraine that it would not exploit the Black Sea grain corridor for anti-Russian military activities.

Ukraine stated that it had not made any commitments beyond the framework of the July agreement.

Thursday saw the departure of seven ships transporting agricultural products from Ukrainian Black Sea ports, according to the Ukrainian infrastructure ministry. The vessels were carrying 290,000 tonnes of food products bound for European and Asian countries, according to an unspecified statement.

By removing a de facto Russian blockade on Ukraine, one of the world's largest grain exporters, the grain deal has helped to alleviate a global food crisis. This week, the possibility of its collapse rekindled fears of a deepening food shortage and rising costs.

After Russia's declaration, the prices of wheat, soybeans, corn, and rapeseed fell substantially on worldwide markets.

Kherson counteroffensive

In the south, a Ukrainian counteroffensive has forced Russian soldiers to defend their positions near the city of Kherson, where Russian-installed authorities are urging residents to escape, according to the Ukrainian military.

Kherson was the first city to fall to Russian soldiers following the February 24 invasion.

The Ukrainian military reported that residents who had helped with invading forces were fleeing and that some outgoing medical personnel had removed hospital equipment.

The residents of Nova Zburivka were given three days to evacuate and were informed that evacuation would become mandatory on November 5.

Russian authorities have often asserted that Ukraine could be planning an assault on the large Kakhovka dam, located upstream on the Dnieper, and flooding the region. Kyiv refutes this.

"Clearly, we are terrified of this. Because of this, we are going "Pavel Ryazskiy, a resident evacuated to Crimea, mentioned the risk that the dam could be demolished.

Publish : 2022-11-03 17:25:00

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