Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a decree Wednesday claiming possession of the beleaguered Zaporizhzhia energy plant, even because the director of Ukraine’s nuclear energy firm mentioned he would assume operations of the plant, which is Europe’s largest nuclear facility.
The announcement got here hours after Putin signed legal guidelines annexing the Zaporizhzhia area. Earlier within the day, Energoatom chief Petro Kotin mentioned he can be operating the Russian-held plant from the capital, Kyiv.
The plant has been the main focus of deep world concern. Both sides blame one another for bombings which have broken elements of the plant and threaten to set off a disaster, worldwide nuclear consultants warn.
“The need for a Nuclear Safety and Security Protection Zone (NSSPZ) around #Zaporizhzhya Nuclear Power Plant is now more urgent than ever,” tweeted Rafael Grossi, director normal of the International Atomic Energy Agency.
The plant’s Ukrainian director was kidnapped Friday and launched this week by Russian forces who occupy the power. Ukrainian employees proceed to function the plant, which halted energy era final month.
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Other developments:
►A former Russian state TV journalist charged with spreading false info after staging an on-air protest in opposition to the battle mentioned in a Facebook publish Wednesday that she has launched herself from home arrest. Marina Ovsyannikova’s ex-husband says she fled along with her younger daughter.
►Russian troops used six Iranian drones to strike the city of Bila Tserkva within the Kyiv area, leaving one particular person wounded, Ukraine’s presidential workplace mentioned. The strikes had been the primary in town since March, when the Russians retreated from the world across the Ukrainian capital.
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Putin indicators regulation annexing Ukraine land regardless of navy setbacks
Putin, ignoring worldwide outrage and the struggles of his military, signed laws Wednesday ratifying the annexation of four Ukraine regions, including two that make up the crucial Donbas region he has targeted since the war began.
“I want the Kyiv authorities and their real masters in the West to hear me, so that everyone remembers this – people living in Luhansk and Donetsk, Kherson and Zaporizhzhia become our citizens forever,” Putin said.
The paperwork is vague on the boundaries of the land Russia is claiming, but Russian media said Putin annexed about 43,000 square miles. Ukraine, almost the size of Texas, estimates about 15% of its territory was annexed.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters the land grab might not be done, saying “certain territories will be reclaimed, and we will keep consulting residents who would be eager to embrace Russia.”
Some of the territory has already been retaken by Ukrainian forces in recent weeks, and most of the world does not recognize the annexations.
“The worthless decisions of the terrorist country are not worth the paper they are signed on,” Andriy Yermak, head of the Ukraine President’s Office, said on Telegram.
Increasing signs of torture in liberated towns
The continued liberation of towns in the east and south of the country is reason to celebrate for Ukrainian troops. What they find is not.
Retreating Russian troops are not only leaving behind barren, destroyed communities, but also disturbing signs of abuse and torture.
Serhiy Bolvinov, who heads the investigative department of the national police in the northeastern Kharkiv region, said authorities are investigating an alleged Russian torture chamber in the village of Pisky-Radkivski. He posted a photo of a box with what looked like teeth and dentures, presumably extracted from those held at the site.
Andriy Kostin, Ukraine’s prosecutor general, told The Associated Press four bodies had been found in Kharkiv towns with signs of torture. Authorities were trying to confirm whether they were civilians. All four had their hands bound or linked by handcuffs. Kostin also said the bodies of 24 civilians, including 13 children and one pregnant woman, were found in six cars near Kupiansk, also in Kharkiv.
Russian military struggles could topple Belarusian leader
Belarus’ opposition leader says she believes that Russian military setbacks in Ukraine could shake Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko’s hold on power. Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya said Wednesday at a security conference in Warsaw that Russia appears to be “about to lose this war.” That could make it impossible for Putin to prop up Lukashenko, Putin’s closest global ally, she said.
Tsikhanouskaya fled to Lithuania after Lukashenko claimed victory in August 2020 elections that were decried in the West as fraudulent.
In annexed Luhansk, Ukrainian leader says de-occupation has begun
Ukrainian troops have begun driving Russian troops out of the Luhansk area and are “raising the Ukrainian flag” in some settlements, regional Gov. governor Serhiy Haidai announced on social media. Russia had taken almost complete control of the crucial province and had seized half of neighboring Donetsk before the Ukrainian counteroffensive began a month ago. About one-third of Luhansk was controlled by Russian-backed militias before the war began. Militia leaders tried to form the Luhansk People’s Republic, but only Russia and a few other nations recognized the republic.
EU approves 8th round of Russian sanctions
The European Union, citing the annexations, agreed Wednesday to impose new sanctions on Russia, including an expected price cap on Russian oil. Details of the sanctions were expected to be released as soon as Thursday, but curbs on EU exports of aircraft components to Russia and limits on Russian steel imports are expected to be included in the package.
EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen announced the eighth round of sanctions, saying Europe is “decided to proceed making the Kremlin pay” for invading Ukraine.
Contributing: The Associated Press
