The President of Ukraine stated that the situation at the Zapudzhia NPP remains “very risky and dangerous,” and Volodymyr Zelenskyi praised Ukrainian experts who are working to “avoid the worst-case scenario.”

Highlights of Saturday, the 185th day of the Ukrainian war, LIVETEXT:

09:28UK MoD morning assessment:

• Over the past five days, the intensity of Russian shelling in the Donetsk direction of Donbass has probably increased. To the north of the city of Donetsk, intense fighting took place near the cities of Siversk and Bakhmut.
• Pro-Russian separatist fighters may have made some progress towards the center of the village of Pisky, near the Donetsk airport.
• However, in general, the Russian troops gained little territory.
• There is a real possibility that Russia has stepped up its efforts in Donbas in an attempt to attract or immobilize additional Ukrainian units amid speculation that Ukraine is planning a major counteroffensive.

Medvedev: We will not stop the war, even if Ukraine leaves NATO

09:15 Two chambers of the Czech Parliament approved the accession of Finland and Sweden to NATO.

At the meeting, which lasted until midnight from Friday to Saturday, the Chamber of Deputies of the Czech Republic almost unanimously voted for the accession of the two northern countries to the North Atlantic Alliance. Earlier this month, the Czech Senate voted for their accession to NATO. (dpa, Agerpres)

08:41
ro/stiri-international-25756112-poland-buys-400-tanks-self-propelled-guns-from-south-korea.htm” target=”_blank”>Poland buys almost 400 main battle tanks and howitzers from South Korea.

08:28UN: Russia blocked the adoption of the document on nuclear disarmament / What worried Moscow

08:04 Dmytro Medvedev said that Russia will not stop its military campaign in Ukraine, even if Kyiv formally renounces its aspirations to join NATO

A quick recap of Saturday morning’s latest events:

• Residents near the Zaporizhia plant have reportedly been given iodine tablets amid growing fears that fighting around the complex could trigger a disaster.
• A team of UN nuclear inspectors is set to make an emergency visit to Zaporizhia Sources told the WSJ that it is “almost certain” that an IAEA mission will visit the plant early next week.
• Deputy Prime Minister of Ukraine Iryna
  htm”>Vereschuk announced plans to expand mandatory evacuation of civilians living on the war front.
• Ukrainian troops struck an important bridge used by the Russian occupying forces in the south of the Kherson region, reports the Southern Command of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. The Daryiv Bridge is the only Russian-controlled crossing over the Ingulets River, which divides the Russian-occupied territory west of the Dnieper.
• European energy ministers will urgently meet to discuss the energy crisis that followed Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, the Czech prime minister said.
• The President of Belarus stated that his country’s SU-24 military aircraft have been converted to carry nuclear weapons. Lukashenko said that his country is ready to immediately respond to “serious provocations” by the West.
• Russia is burning huge amounts of natural gas that it could export to Germany, while the cost of energy in Europe is rising.
• The Minister of Foreign Affairs of Germany declared his readiness to compromise on the proposal to limit the right of Russian tourists to visit
• Russia’s opportunities in the North
  hotnews.ro/stiri-international-25755700-jens-stoltenberg-capabilitatile-rusiei-arctica-sunt-provocare-strategica-pentru-nato.htm”>is a challenge for NATO, an organization that needs a reliable presence of allies in the Arctic region – Jens Stoltenberg said on Friday.
• htm”>From October, Britons’ electricity bills will rise by 80% to an average of more than £3,500 (€4,200) a year.
• The Hungarian nuclear regulator granted a construction license
  htm”>two new reactors at the Paksh NPP to be built by the Russian company Rosatom

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• Friday’s events regarding Ukraine were broadcast LIVE on HotNews.ro