Russian President Vladimir Putin may order the Zaporizhia nuclear power plant to be blown up to strengthen his shaky position, writes the British Times newspaper in an editorial cited by the BBC Russian Service.

The Times believes that, as an authoritarian leader, it is important for Putin to maintain visibility in the eyes of his supporters. However, the course of the war, the beginning of which was already a “big strategic mistake”, and the recent attempt of an armed uprising by Yevgeny Prigozhin may push the Kremlin leader to take radical measures, the British publication believes.

For a long time, Putin’s army has had no real success at the front to demonstrate to the public, which damages the image of a successful and decisive leader, and the events of June 24, as the Times writes, further demonstrated Putin’s shaky position: the Russian army offered little resistance to Wagner’s mercenaries, and the residents Rostov “enthusiastically welcomed the mercenaries,” adds the Times.

“This is a dangerous time for Putin’s regime and, therefore, a time of increased danger for the region. To restore political capital, Putin may be tempted to go to war in the hope of quick victories,” the Times suggests.

“His army has already blown up the Kakhovskaya HPP dam (although Russia denies this). It is quite possible that they also have a plan to attack the Zaporizhzhia NPP,” the Times writes.

The Ukrainian authorities have been warning for a long time about the threat from the Russians at the Zaporizhzhia NPP they seized. Moscow rejects these suspicions.

The Times notes that the gradual withdrawal of troops and personnel from the plant, which has been reported in recent days, also confirms these suspicions.

As the Times writes, NATO countries should strongly warn Moscow that it will not leave unanswered the possible sabotage of Europe’s largest nuclear power plant with potentially catastrophic consequences.

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