Russians are preparing a provocation at Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant – intelligence
ALONA MAZURENKO — THURSDAY, 18 AUGUST 2022, 18:18
Ukrainian intelligence officers believe that the Russians are preparing a provocation at the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant (ZNPP), the largest in Europe, on 19 August.
Source: Chief Intelligence Directorate
Quote: "The invaders have announced an unexpected ‘day off’ at the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant. On 19 August, only operational personnel will be stationed at the ZNPP. No other employees will be allowed to enter.
It is also known that representatives of Rosatom [Russia’s State Nuclear Energy Corporation], who have recently been constantly at the plant, have urgently left the territory of the facility."
Details: The intelligence service drew attention to the fact that Russia’s Defence Ministry has claimed that a "terrorist attack" is being prepared by the Armed Forces of Ukraine.
The Russians say that preparations are underway for a high-profile provocation during the visit of UN Secretary-General António Guterres to Ukraine in order that the Russian Federation can be accused of causing a man-made disaster. The Russians are expected to accuse the Ukrainian authorities of preparing the terrorist attack.
Ukrainian intelligence officers believe that following their extensive shelling of the ZNPP, the invaders could "raise the stakes" and stage a real terrorist attack on Europe's largest nuclear facility.
Background:
- The Russian Ministry of Defence claimed that a "large-scale provocation by the Kyiv regime" could take place at the ZNPP on 19 August during the visit of UN Secretary-General António Guterres to Ukraine.
- On 17 August, Guterres arrived in Lviv to meet with the presidents of Ukraine and Turkey. During his meeting with Zelenskyy, Guterres discussed the situation at the ZNPP, as well as the search for a political solution to end the war with Russia.
- Earlier, the UN said that it could assist the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) to visit Zaporizhzhia from Kyiv, but Russia is insisting that any mission that will pass through Ukraine is too dangerous. On 18 August, it became known that the Director General of the IAEA will personally lead the mission to ZNPP.
- At a meeting of the UN Security Council, the United States indicated that for the sake of the security of the ZNPP, Russian troops should be withdrawn from there. Vasily Nebenzya, Russia’s representative to the UN, rejected the offer to create a demilitarised zone around the ZNPP.
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