The Ukrainian Ministry of Defense confirmed on Friday that Russia is planning to simulate a major incident at a nuclear power plant controlled by Moscow-aligned forces in an attempt to thwart a long-planned Ukrainian counteroffensive to reclaim Russian-occupied territories.
The intelligence department of the Ministry of Defense stated that Russian forces will soon shell the facility, then announce a radioactive leak. This would compel international authorities to conduct an investigation, during which all hostilities would be halted.
The statement published on the Telegram app did not provide any evidence. It added that Russia has disrupted the planned rotation of International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) inspectors at the plant.
The IAEA, based in Vienna and which regularly issues updates about the plant, did not mention any disruption.
Witnesses reported last week that Russian military forces have reinforced their defensive positions at and around the plant ahead of the counteroffensive.
In February, Russia claimed that Ukraine was planning "to launch a nuclear attack on its territory to blame Moscow."
In October 2022, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky urged the West to warn Russia against blowing up a dam that would flood a large area. The dam was not destroyed.
Russia has repeatedly accused Kyiv of planning "fake" operations with unconventional weapons, using biological or radioactive materials. However, no such attacks have occurred.
The Zaporizhia plant, located in an area occupied by Russia in southern Ukraine, is the largest nuclear power plant in Europe. The region has repeatedly been shelled, with both sides blaming each other for the attacks.
