On Sunday, a Ukrainian drone struck the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant (ZNPP), which is located in southeastern Ukraine and has been under Russian control since February 2022.
The plant’s officials said there was no serious damage in the attack, and radiation levels were normal. Rosatom, Russia’s state nuclear agency, later said three people were wounded in the attack.
The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), which has inspectors at the plant, confirmed the drone attack. “IAEA experts confirmed physical impact of drone attacks at ZNPP today,” the agency wrote on X.
IAEA chief Rafael Grossi condemned the attack. “This is a clear violation of the basic principles for protecting Europe’s largest NPP. Such reckless attacks significantly increase the risk of a major nuclear accident and must cease immediately,” Grossi said.
The ZNPP is located in the town of Enerhodar on the south bank of the Dnieper River. Ukraine controls the territory across the river, and the plant has come under Ukrainian shelling throughout the war.
Ukrainian forces have also launched several failed attempts to retake the plant. A report from The Times revealed that the US backed one of the attempts in October 2022 when 600 Ukrainian commandos tried to cross the river. The US supported the raid by providing targeting data so Ukraine could use its US-provided HIMARS rocket systems, which hit Russian positions on the southern bank of the river near the ZNPP.
Was this the same plant that our propagandists were insisting that Russia was bombing while they were inside?
Yup. The Ukrainians even shelled the town next to it while the inspectors were there.
And the IAEA just can’t seem to determine who is dropping explosives in and around the nuclear station. Guess we should be satisfied they can even identify a nuclear power plant.
Good one!
It has to be the same people (first reported) that blew up Nordstream? 😉
Of course it’s the Russians. Of course.
Follow the money…….
Lol.
Yes, the Russians. You got it right.
It was insane and people still bought it in the US. Russia is occupying a nuke plant, and they are bombing themselves. It doesn’t get more stupid than that!
We Americans is smart.
The operators in Kiev are smarter. /s
This should serve to prove that Ukraine’s “leaders” don’t give a flying flip about their people, but for those who still believe the NATO propaganda there’s probably nothing that could shake them.
Pretty true. It would appear that they did not care that any serious damage would release radioactive clouds that would wind up putting their people in hospitals, perhaps die of a slow death by radioactive poisoning. Real clever.
Northern Hemisphere has prevailing Westerlies.
CNN reported Ukraine denied involvement, and that several exploding drones specifically targeted the containment vessel.
If Ukrainian army didn’t do it, that doesn’t mean the attack didn’t initiated from Ukraine by some anti-Russian faction resistance group…!
The headline is kind of misleading. “Russia says Ukraine attacked X” is not the same thing as “Ukraine attacked X.”
Tell them, Thomas! The good news is Ukraine denied it. So, what we have here is Russia being dumb again–just like when they bombed their own pipeline. How am I doing?
I never assume either side is telling the truth, and have yet to see any evidence establishing which side did it.
Unlike some, I don’t assume that cui bono necessarily tells the whole story, which is why I don’t leap to the conclusion that it was a Russian attack.
So Russia has the utility full of techs and surrounded by its troops, and intends to keep this territory and integrate the facility into their electrical grid, so they’re bombing it. Uh, huh.
Your train of logic seems to have derailed, you might want to get that fixed.
Well, then, there’s actual logic.
Russia currently controls the plant, which is on land it temporarily occupies but by now knows to a near certainty it’s going to end up leavng.
Ukraine, on the other hand, wants that land back, is eventually going to get that land back, and would prefer to get it back in a non-irradiated state.
Which side does a nuclear incident benefit — the side that’s going to be leaving but would rather not be seen as “surrendering,” or the side that’s going to be moving back in?
knows to a near certainty it’s going to end up leavng
I’m sorry, but what planet are you living on? Ukraine is so short of manpower that its average soldier is almost 50, has an 8-10/1 (depending on area) deficit in artillery, has a 3/1 deficit in drones, has no air force left capable of getting near enough to the front to be useful, has so little armor left that they’re converting armored units to pure infantry, has no defensive lines, has no industry remaining but drone manufacturing, its electrical grid is in shambles as is its transportation network and the gas distribution network is completely gone, NATO is pretty much out of war toys to give them, and the oligarchs are madly shoveling funds overseas as fast as their accountants can type. Since cancelling elections Zelinskyy’s popularity is in the toilet, along with the country’s economy. The front moves closer to Kiev daily. Time for a reality check.
You seem to be among those who have been making the same excuses for more than two years now for Russia’s inability to successfully prosecute its war effort.
I tend to look at facts rather than excuses.
Russia does not want to control the whole of Ukraine, and you know it. Putin has said it quite often. What began as RTP of the people in Donbas has become a war with NATO/U.S.
Correct. People keep arguing that the past 30 years of history re Ukraine, Russia, and the DC crowd and their machinations all over the world have nothing to do with what’s happening today.
It’s a fucking disease.
Do us all a favor and attach the sources of your bulls**t.
Ukraine has a shortage of artillery shells right now due to the GOP a**holes in congress but Estonia just “found” another 1 million shells — which will be put to use shortly, I’m sure.
Drone deficit? Show me your work.
I do agree that the Ukes don’t have a lot of new aircraft…yet.
Ukraine has MORE tanks than they did before the war. (Thank you, Russian Army!)
The rest? Show me your sources and I’ll debunk them individually.
Meanwhile, how’s the Russian Navy doing today? Hahaha.
That’s nonsense. Why would Russia “know” it will be “leaving” territory it controls and Ukraine can’t take back?
I’m operating on the assumption that neither Putin nor the general staff are idiots, and that they therefore know they’ll be leaving most of Kherson and Zaporzhia sooner or later.
But by all means, if you think Putin and the general staff are idiots, feel free to go with your own opinion.
Again with the ridiculous sarcasm when you can’t defend your statement. What a useless old tool you are. Your columns suck too, you moron.
Thanks for the vote of confidence.
Did that stop the firebombing of Berlin which the allies knew they were going to occupy?
Your skepticism seems to be weighted to one side in this matter. Your pretense of impartiality is just that.
If you think my skepticism is so unevenly weighted, feel free to name so much as a single instance of me uncritically accepting a Ukrainian regime claim.
I won’t be surprised if it turns out that the Ukrainians were responsible for the attack.
I won’t be surprised if it turns out that the Russians were responsible for the attack.
I was just pointing out that the “cui bono” reasoning so many people on this board like to use would point the finger at Russia rather than Ukraine. Weakly, because it would only be a gain for Russia if they were ready to commence their withdrawal. But there’s just no gain whatsoever for Ukraine in it that I can find.
I have observed you only expressing your “skepticism” in comments against those who can be understood as having a pro-Russian view. I haven’t seen you use your “skepticism” when pro-Ukrainian commenters make comments. Hence, a conclusion you have a bias. The bias is fine. Don Julio is an idiot but he is honest. You? It seems not so much.
Seems like you might need some work on your observational powers.
It’s probably a false flag attack by the CIA (lol).
Your comment is kind of misleading. You are implying we should be open to the possibility that Russia keeps bombing itself 👾
I’m not sure what you mean by “itself.”
If you mean Russian troops, it’s not like Russia would be the first country to ever risk some of its own troops to make a false flag look real.
If you mean Russian territory, it’s unlikely that the Russian occupation of that particular territory will be a permanent thing.
Right, I’m sure you would argue we can’t rule out Russia blew up Nord Stream pipelines, and they definitely blew up the Kherson dam.
Consider this: what would Russia gain from a false-flag here? What could they possibly achieve with this covert action that they can’t with overt means?
You’re correct — I don’t rule out things that can’t be ruled out.
What the Russians could achieve with nuclear disaster at that plant is an excuse to evacuate territory they’re not going to get to keep without letting it be a rout or surrender.
Russia is so dumb and Ukraine is more righteous than the Pope with their “Freedom and Democracy.” Russia is worried about a little nuclear waste leaking out of the facility? Well, if this starts a nuclear war, why would anybody care?
Psst Zelensky, radiation doesn’t stay in situ.
What does he care? He’s got houses in London, Miami, Geneva, and a villa in Tuscany. It’s just the “little people” who will be affected, and who cares about them?
Plus, a bunch of cash in Costa Rica, I believe. Somewhere over there.
Psst. ED. You are correct.
Ok Dave, we know you don’t like Ukraine but that’s no reason to blindly attribute attacks on the Nuclear Plant to Ukraine without zero evidence. Utilizing Russian sources is not evidence.
Let’s see, drone gets tracked from Ukraine, launches missiles, then turns back towards Ukraine. Yep, must be the Russians!
“drone gets tracked from Ukraine”
Interesting assertion. Any evidence for it?
Satellites monitoring the earth have the record. We (U.S.), and Russia knows where the drone came from.
Boy those guys running Kiev are smart, aren’t they? Cause a nuclear disaster in Ukraine to “teach Russia a lesson”, which would spread fallout far and wide. Clever. Real clever.
It appears the filthy Zelenskyy wants to create another Chernobyl incident or worse….
Completely reckless, should be condemned by the US immediately once confirmed.
Trying to be destruction 5th gear. 1st gear is the day-in day-out unexploded cluster bombs and depleted uranium rounds when this war madness someday ends.
Imitating Ukrainian shelling: Russians attacked Zaporizhia NPP with their FPV drones – intelligence
https://ukrainetoday.org/imitating-ukrainian-shelling-russians-attacked-zaporizhia-npp-with-their-fpv-drones-intelligence/
As usual, Antiwar reports Russian claims as undisputed fact. For the record, they are not.
Ukraine said Moscow was spreading “fake” information that Kyiv had fired drones at the plant. Lt Andriy Kovalenko, the head of Ukraine’s centre for countering disinformation, said Russia was attacking the facility “with drones, pretending that the threat to the plant and nuclear safety is incoming from Ukraine.”
This is what Russia does.
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2024/apr/08/russia-ukraine-zaporizhzhia-nuclear-power-plant-drone-strike
US urges Russia “not to play dangerous games” at Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant
https://www.pravda.com.ua/eng/news/2024/04/9/7450343/
Warning Update: Russia May Conduct a Chemical or
Radiological False-Flag Attack as a Pretext for Greater
Aggression against Ukraine
https://www.understandingwar.org/sites/default/files/Radiological%20Chemical%20False%20Flag%20Warning.pdf
Ukraine war: ‘false flag’ operations – long used as weapons of mass distraction under the rules of conflict
https://theconversation.com/ukraine-war-false-flag-operations-long-used-as-weapons-of-mass-distraction-under-the-rules-of-conflict-201304
Russia accused of false flag attack as drones blast Europe’s biggest nuclear plant amid fears it’s on brink of disaster
https://www.thesun.co.uk/news/27177448/russia-false-flag-attack-drones-blast-europe-nuclear-plant/