Russia denounces Ukraine's attempt to bomb nuclear plant

In recent weeks, the Ukrainian army has achieved important victories over Russia, conquering territories inside the rival country, something unprecedented in this conflict. One of these cities, Kursk, has a nuclear power plant, which, according to Putin, was the target of an attempted bombing on August 6.

The Russian president's accusation was revealed in a broadcast of a meeting of high-ranking government officials and the governors of the Kursk region with Putin, where he claimed without evidence that the enemy army unsuccessfully tried to attack the nuclear power plant during the early hours of the morning.

Site assessment

Putin also said that the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) had been notified and that it would send experts in the coming days to assess the situation at the nuclear plant.

The agency confirmed to AFP news agency that director general Rafael Grossi would travel to the site next week. Grossi said he was in contact with nuclear authorities from both countries.

_{Embed from Getty Images}

_{Russian President in a video conference with members of the government (Photo: reproduction/GAVRIIL GRIGOROV/POOL/AFP/Getty Images Embed)}

Ukraine denies attempt

According to the head of the department for combating disinformation at the National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine, Andrii Kovalenko, his country's army did not attempt to bomb the Kursk nuclear power plant and suggested without evidence that Russia was fabricating this accusation to attract the attention of world leaders and that the attempt to accuse Ukrainians of nuclear terrorism is empty.

Ukrainian Foreign Ministry spokesman Heorhii Tykhyi said last Friday (16) that there are no plans on the part of his country to attack nuclear plants. He also reprimanded Russia, calling attempts to attribute such crimes to Ukraine false and asking the Russians to stop spreading lies.

Maximum moderation

The IAEA has called for the avoidance of fighting near the Kursk nuclear power plant. The agency has called on both countries to exercise maximum restraint to avoid an unprecedented nuclear accident.

Kursk Governor Alexei Smirnov said on Thursday (22) that the plant is operating normally and that, in principle, there are no records of problems at the complex.

_{Embed from Getty Images}

_{Ukrainian troops are in the Kursk region of Russia (Photo: reproduction/GKostiantyn Liberov/Libkos/Getty Images Embed)}

Ukraine attacks on Russian soil

With the capture of some territories in the Kursk region inside Russia, the course of the war appears to be changing, but there is still no prospect of peace. Putin told government officials this week that any attempt at a ceasefire or end to the war is no longer on the table, claiming that Ukraine had crossed the “red line” by taking Russian cities in the region.

Russia continues to advance in Ukraine's Donetsk region and is close to conquering the entire region. The city of Pokrovsk before the war had 60,000 inhabitants and is considered key to Russia's plans to conquer it. President Zelenskyy has asked army commanders to strengthen the city's defenses by sending more troops.

Featured Photo: Putin accuses Ukraine of nuclear terrorism (Reproduction/GAVRIIL GRIGOROV/POOL/AFP/Getty Images Embed)