Ukraine: Russians use Zaporizhzhya nuclear power plant as artillery base and weapons storage
Russian soldiers have deployed missile systems and stockpiled weapons around the occupied nuclear power plant near Zaporizhzhya. That is according to Petro Kotin director of the Ukrainian state energy company Energoatom. He made his statements Friday in a TV interview, which he then shared on Telegram.
The Zaporizhzhya nuclear power plant, a city in southeastern Ukraine, was occupied by the Russians in March. Since then, according to Kotin, the Russians have brought weapons and missile systems to the complex and the site is used as an artillery base for shelling. The Energoatom director did not support his statements during the broadcast with any evidence.
There are now said to be about 500 Russian soldiers on the site. The plant is still in operation and operated by Ukrainian personnel. According to the Kotin, the situation is “extremely tense”.
Kotin called on the international community to put more pressure on Russia so that the military can leave and the safety of the plant can be ensured. In particular, the international nuclear agency IAEA should do more in his view: “The IAEA is playing political games, balancing between Ukraine and Russia.”
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