Russia planning ‘provocation’ at ZNPP, Ukrainian intelligence warns
Zaporizhzhya NPP (Photo:REUTERS/Alexander Ermochenko)
Russian forces are planning to carry out a “large-scale
provocation” at the occupied Zaporizhzhya
Nuclear Power Plant (ZNPP) in the near future, including a rehearsed
announcement of a radioactive leak, Ukrainian Military Intelligence said in a
Telegram post on May 26.
The report said that "in the coming hours" the Russian occupiers are preparing to “imitate” an accident at the facility
“For this, a strike will be carried out directly on the territory of the NPP,” the message reads.
“Afterwards, an emergency leak of radioactive substances will be announced. Ukraine will be blamed for the incident, as usual.”
To conceal their actions, the Russians have disrupted the scheduled rotation of the permanent monitoring mission of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) today, added the intelligence service.
“The goal of this action is to provoke the international community to conduct a detailed investigation during which all hostilities would be stopped,” the statement said.
“Thus, the Russian forces hope to get the desired pause, which they will use to regroup and attempt to stop the Ukrainian counteroffensive.”
Zaporizhzhia NPP is the largest nuclear power plant in Europe, and has been occupied by Russian forces since March 4. Several ZNPP facilities have been damaged by Russian shelling, and the station's employees are captives of the occupying troops.
The Kremlin uses the site as cover for its forces, as Ukraine can’t return fire for the risk of causing a nuclear calamity.
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