The Armed Forces of Ukraine have warned citizens that the Russians may soon begin preparations for provocations at the Zaporizhia NPP and have already placed explosive objects on the roofs of two power plants, reports Ukrainian Pravda.

Cooling towers from Zaporizhzhya TPPPhoto: Olya Solodenko, Dreamstime.com

“The Armed Forces of Ukraine officially inform [cetățenii] regarding the possible preparation of a provocation in the near future on the territory of the Zaporizhzhya NPP, which has been occupied by Russian terrorists since March 4, 2022. According to operational intelligence, today on the street the external roof of the third and fourth blocks of the ZNPP,” the General Staff said in a statement.

According to the military, their detonation should not damage the electrical units, but may create the impression of bombing from the side of Ukraine. Russian mass media and Telegram channels also report on such actions of their military, reports “Ukrainian”.

Britain’s Times newspaper wrote in an editorial cited by the BBC Russia Service that Russian President Vladimir Putin may have ordered the Zaporizhia nuclear power plant to be blown up to strengthen his shaky position.

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.

On the other hand, the Institute for the Study of War (ISW) said in an assessment on Saturday that the probability that Russian forces staged an “accident” at the Zaporizhia Nuclear Power Plant (ZAEP) was low, although the possibility could not be ruled out. outside.

Earlier, Volodymyr Zelenskyi accused Russia of preparing a “terrorist attack” on the nuclear power plant with the release of radiation, and the Ukrainian military intelligence (MUR) stated that Moscow is gradually reducing the number of personnel at the nuclear power plant.

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