Russia Alleges Ukrainian Drone Strikes Spark Fire At Nuclear Plant On Ukraine’s Independence Day
Attack on power facility and key port coincides with Ukraine’s 34th anniversary; Kyiv remains silent as international support for Ukraine grows.
Russia has accused Ukraine of launching drone attacks that caused a fire at a nuclear power plant in the western Kursk region.
The alleged strikes, which coincided with Ukraine’s 34th anniversary of independence, also targeted a major fuel export terminal at the port of Ust-Luga. Russian officials said the fire at the nuclear facility was quickly extinguished, and radiation levels remained normal.
The United Nations’ nuclear watchdog, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), stated that it was aware of media reports regarding the incident but had no independent confirmation.
The agency’s director-general, Rafael Mariano Grossi, stressed the need to protect nuclear facilities at all times. Ukraine has not commented on the Russian claims.
The incidents occurred as Ukraine celebrated its Independence Day, with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy delivering an address from Kyiv’s Independence Square, emphasizing the nation’s strength and resolve for a “just peace.”
The day also saw a show of international support for Ukraine, with Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney and U.S. special envoy Keith Kellogg in attendance at the celebrations in Kyiv. Norway announced a new military aid package of approximately $695 million for air defense systems.
Meanwhile, the fighting continues on the front line in eastern Ukraine, where Russia claimed over the weekend to have seized two villages in the Donetsk region.
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