Ukraine targets Russian soldiers threatening Europe’s largest nuclear power plant

KYIV, Aug 14 (Reuters) – Ukraine is focusing on Russian soldiers who shoot at Europe’s largest nuclear power station or use it as a base to shoot from, as G7 nations, fearing a nuclear disaster, referred to as on Moscow to withdraw its forces from the plant.

Ukraine and Russia have traded accusations over a number of incidents of shelling on the Zaporizhzhia facility in southern Ukraine. Russian troops captured the station early within the warfare.

“Every Russian soldier who either shoots at the plant, or shoots using the plant as cover, must understand that he becomes a special target for our intelligence agents, for our special services, for our army,” President Volodymyr Zelenskiy mentioned in a night deal with on Saturday.

Zelenskiy, who didn’t give any particulars, repeated claims that Russia was utilizing the plant as nuclear blackmail.

The plant dominates the south financial institution of an unlimited reservoir on the Dnipro river. Ukrainian forces controlling the cities and cities on the other financial institution have come below intense bombardment from the Russian-held facet. learn extra

Ukrainian presidential adviser Mykhailo Podolyak accused Russia of “hitting the part of the nuclear power plant where the energy that powers the south of Ukraine is generated”.

“The goal is to disconnect us from the (plant) and blame the Ukrainian army for this,” Podolyak wrote on Twitter.

The International Atomic Energy Agency, which is in search of to examine the plant, has warned of a nuclear catastrophe except preventing stops. Nuclear specialists concern preventing may harm the plant’s spent gasoline swimming pools or the reactors.

United Nations chief Antonio Guterres has referred to as for the institution of a demilitarised zone across the Zaporizhzhia facility, which continues to be being run by Ukrainian technicians.

Kyiv has mentioned for weeks it’s planning a counteroffensive to recapture Zaporizhzhia and neighbouring Kherson provinces, the largest a part of the territory Russia seized after its Feb. 24 invasion and nonetheless in Russian arms.

Russian and Ukrainian forces earlier fought for management of Chornobyl, the still-radioactive web site of the world’s worst nuclear accident, additionally elevating fears of a catastrophe.

RUSSIA STRENGTEHEN SOUTHERN FORCES

Russia’s precedence over the previous week has possible been to reorient models to strengthen its marketing campaign in southern Ukraine, British navy intelligence mentioned on Sunday.

Russian-backed forces of the self-proclaimed Donetsk People’s Republic within the jap area of Donbas continued assaults to the north of Donetsk metropolis, the British Defence Ministry mentioned in its every day intelligence bulletin on Twitter.

Particularly heavy preventing has focussed on the village of Pisky, close to the Donetsk airport, it mentioned. Ukraine’s navy command mentioned on Saturday “fierce fighting” continued in Pisky, an jap village over which Russia had earlier claimed full management. learn extra

The British navy mentioned the Russian assault possible goals to safe the M04 freeway, the principle method to Donetsk from the west.

UKRAINE GRAIN SHIPS

Two extra ships carrying grain left Ukraine’s Black Sea ports on Saturday, Turkey’s defence ministry mentioned, bringing to 16 the variety of vessels to depart below a U.N.- and Turkey-brokered deal in late July aimed partly at easing a world meals disaster.

Ukraine’s infrastructure ministry mentioned on Saturday that 16 ships carrying 450,000 tonnes of agricultural merchandise had departed from Ukrainian sea ports since early August below the deal, which ensured secure passage for vessels.

The U.N.-chartered ship MV Brave Commander will depart Ukraine for Africa in coming days after it finishes loading greater than 23,000 tons of wheat within the port of Pivdennyi, a U.N. official mentioned. learn extra

The ship, sure for Ethiopia, would be the first humanitarian meals help cargo to Africa because the begin of the warfare, amid fears the lack of Ukrainian grain provides may result in outbreaks of famine.

Zelenskiy mentioned that in lower than two weeks, Ukraine had managed to export the identical quantity of grain from three ports because it had carried out by street for all of July.

Ukraine hopes to extend its maritime exports to over 3 million tonnes of grain and different farm merchandise monthly within the close to future.

Ukraine and Russia are main grains exporters. The blockage of Ukrainian ports has trapped tens of thousands and thousands of grain within the nation, elevating fears of extreme meals shortages and even outbreaks of famine in components of the world. learn extra

DIPLOMATIC RIFT DEEPENS

Russia’s invasion, which it calls a “special military operation” to demilitarise and “denazify” its smaller neighbour, has pushed Moscow-Washington relations to a low level, with Russia warning it could sever ties.

The United States has led Ukraine’s Western allies in supplying it with weapons to defend itself and punitive sanctions towards Moscow.

A senior Russian official on Friday mentioned Moscow had instructed Washington that if the U.S. Senate handed a regulation singling out Russia as a “state sponsor of terrorism”, diplomatic ties can be badly broken and will even be damaged off.

On Saturday a senior Russian overseas ministry official warned that any seizure of Russian property by the United States would utterly destroy bilateral relations, TASS reported.

Alexander Darchiev, head of the ministry’s North American Department, was quoted as saying U.S. affect on Ukraine had elevated to the diploma that “Americans are increasingly becoming more and more a direct party in the conflict”.

The United States and Europe, cautious of being dragged instantly into the warfare, have refused Ukraine’s request to ascertain a no-fly zone to assist it defend its skies from Russian missiles and warplanes.

(This story corrects quantity to 23,000 in paragraph 20, corrects spelling of phrase sure in paragraph 21)

Reporting by Natalia Zinets in Kyiv and Reuters bureaux; Writing by Michael Perry; Editing by William Mallard

Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.