New Statesman: Budanov says Russia's plan to sabotage Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant has been 'drafted and approved'.

In an interview[1] for the New Statesman, Ukraine's military intelligence chief Kyrylo Budanov said that Russia had completed preparations for an attack on the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant. When asked if the decision to conduct a sabotage act at the plant had already been made, Budanov replied that the plan had been "drafted and approved" -- the only thing left is the order to proceed. "Then it can happen in a matter of minutes." Budanov earlier warned[2] that Russian forces had additionally mined the plant's cooler.

According to the intelligence chief cited by the publication, nuclear reactors could melt down in ten hours to 14 days without cooling. Meanwhile, Russian forces could use "technical means to speed up the catastrophe." The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), however, said[3] that no new mines were discovered during the recent missions by its chief Rafael Grossi.

Ukraine's military intelligence also found out that Russian troops had moved the equipment loaded with explosives to four of the six power units of the plant, the New Statesman wrote. The possibility of a Russian sabotage at the Zaporizhzhia plant was reported before, but "the situation has never been as severe as now," according to Budanov.

Ukraine war latest: Zelensky warns of possible Russian terrorist attack at Zaporizhzhia plant; IAEA spots no new mines at site Key developments on June 22: * Russia considers 'radiation leak' at Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Plant, warns Zelensky * Explosions reported in occupied Crimea * Russian proxies claim Ukraine hit bridge connecting Crimea to mainland Ukraine * EU provides £1.6 billion to Ukraine According to President...

[4]

President Volodymyr Zelensky announced[5] on June 20, citing intelligence reports, that Moscow was considering a terrorist attack at the occupied Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant by deliberately leaking radiation.

According to Interior Minister[6], special coordination centers have already been deployed across Ukraine to prepare for the possible attack. In its June 22 assessment, the Institute for the Study of War (ISW) wrote[7] that Russia might be signaling its readiness to sabotage the Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant to prevent Ukrainian forces from launching a counteroffensive in the area. According to the ISW, a deliberate radiation incident at the nuclear plant remains unlikely but not impossible.

The think-tank explained that the radioactive leak would be difficult to control and could potentially affect Russian forces more than Ukrainian ones, depending on given conditions at the time. The Zaporizhzhia plant, Europe's largest nuclear power station, has been under Russian occupation since March 4, 2022.

Counteroffensive underway: 'We overestimated Russians and underestimated ourselves' Editor's Note: The Kyiv Independent introduces soldiers interviewed for the story by their first names or callsigns due to security reasons.

DONETSK OBLAST - Islam's mind was empty of thoughts and feelings as he crawled carefully towards the Russian trenches near Siversk, with grenades prepared. "...

[8] Dinara Khalilova

News editor

Dinara Khalilova is a news editor at the Kyiv Independent. She has previously worked as a fixer and local producer for Sky News. Dinara holds a BA in journalism from Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv and a Master's degree in media and communication from Bournemouth University in the UK.

References

  1. ^ interview (www.newstatesman.com)
  2. ^ warned (kyivindependent.com)
  3. ^ said (kyivindependent.com)
  4. ^ Ukraine war latest: Zelensky warns of possible Russian terrorist attack at Zaporizhzhia plant; IAEA spots no new mines at siteKey developments on June 22: * Russia considers 'radiation leak' at Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Plant, warns Zelensky * Explosions reported in occupied Crimea * Russian proxies claim Ukraine hit bridge connecting Crimea to mainland Ukraine * EU provides £1.6 billion to Ukraine According to President... (kyivindependent.com)
  5. ^ announced (kyivindependent.com)
  6. ^ Interior Minister (lb.ua)
  7. ^ wrote (kyivindependent.com)
  8. ^ Counteroffensive underway: 'We overestimated Russians and underestimated ourselves'Editor's Note: The Kyiv Independent introduces soldiers interviewed for the story by their first names or callsigns due to security reasons.

    DONETSK OBLAST - Islam's mind was empty of thoughts and feelings as he crawled carefully towards the Russian trenches near Siversk, with grenades prepared. "... (kyivindependent.com)

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