Russia Fire in the cooling system of Zaporizhzhya nuclear power plant extinguished
According to Russian reports, a fire broke out in the cooling system of the Russian-occupied Zaporizhzhya nuclear power plant in Enerhodar in southern Ukraine this evening. The fire was completely extinguished during the night, according to a Russian official on Telegram.
12.08.2024, 07:42
SDA
The governor of the region, Yevgeny Balitsky, who was also appointed by Moscow, explained according to the state agency Tass that there had previously been a Ukrainian attack on the area surrounding the power plant. However, there was no danger, as all of the nuclear power plant's units had been shut down. Radiation levels are within the normal range. In the morning, Balitsky announced that safety precautions had been increased at all plants of strategic importance in the region on the orders of Kremlin leader Vladimir Putin.
The Russian side claimed that a Ukrainian combat drone had caused considerable damage to the infrastructure of the nuclear power plant. The information could not initially be independently verified.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyi in turn accused Russia of setting fire to the nuclear power plant. The radiation levels were normal, Selensky wrote on Platform X. "But as long as the Russian terrorists control the nuclear power plant, the situation is not and cannot be normal." He called for an immediate response from the international community and the IAEA.
Russia captured Europe's largest nuclear power plant shortly after the start of its war of aggression and has occupied it ever since. Both sides blame each other for attacks on or sabotage of the power plant. Russia has recently repeatedly complained about Ukrainian drone attacks. The reactors were already shut down in 2022 due to safety concerns, but must continue to be cooled. IAEA observers are stationed at the site.
Ukrainians advance further near Kursk
Meanwhile, regular Ukrainian troops have continued their advance on Russian territory in the Kursk region. Neither the Russians nor the Ukrainians have given any precise details of the advance, but Russian military bloggers have reported that the Ukrainians are continuing to advance into Russian territory and that heavy fighting is taking place around numerous settlements. Among other things, Ukrainian mobile combat groups, which repeatedly exploited gaps in the front to launch rapid attacks, caused major problems for Russian units and dealt them heavy blows.
The acting governor of the Kursk region, Alexei Smirnov, reported on the Telegram platform that further resources and reinforcements were on their way. "In the meantime, the armed forces are doing everything they can to protect the civilian population."
The general's office in Kiev provided little information on the actual fighting in the Kursk region. The situation report merely stated that Russian long-range artillery and fighter planes were targeting the area around Sumy. This zone is considered a deployment area and supply route for the Ukrainian units in the Kursk region.
Russian pressure continues in eastern Ukraine
Away from the fighting during the Ukrainian advance into Russian territory near Kursk, Russian troops have continued their attacks in eastern Ukraine. According to the Ukrainian General Staff in Kiev, the focal points of the fighting were around Torezk and Pokrovsk.
The heaviest fighting was recorded near Pokrovsk on the edge of the Donbass. Since the morning, Russian units have made a total of 26 attempts to break through the Ukrainian defenses. The attacks had been repulsed. Independent confirmation of the reports was not possible.
According to the report, Russian troops once again attempted to advance towards the village of Nju Jork (New York) near Torezk. These attacks were also repelled, it was reported. The city of Torezk was also the target of Russian air strikes.
Selenskyj: Russian launch sites precisely registered
Ukraine has a precise overview of the locations within Russia from which missiles, artillery or combat drones are fired at Ukrainian cities. "We register all locations from which the Russian army strikes," said President Zelenskyi in his evening video address. This applies to the Voronezh, Kursk and Belgorod regions as well as other areas of Russia.
Since the beginning of this summer alone, almost 2,000 attacks - artillery, mortars and drones - have been launched from the Kursk region against the Ukrainian region of Sumy. "We record every missile strike, and each of these attacks deserves an appropriate response."
Selensky announced an early response to these attacks. "We will respond with long-range attacks on Russian missile launch sites and with the corresponding destruction of Russian military logistics," he said.
However, he will have to talk to Ukraine's partners again in order to obtain permission from them to use the heavy weapons they have supplied for attacks against targets on Russian territory. "Just as air defense protects lives, lifting restrictions on long-range strikes will save thousands of lives."
Kiev has been struggling for months with its Western partners for permission to use missiles and other heavy weapons against military and logistical targets inside Russia. Until now, the Ukrainian military has only been able to use drones of its own production for such attacks. However, these unmanned aircraft only have a low explosive power.
Russia attacked Ukraine on Sunday night with both missiles and so-called kamikaze drones. The constant night-time attacks are causing unrest among the civilian population in many places, with serious damage and casualties being reported time and again.
