Rosatom Chief Accuses Kyiv over Zaporizhzhia Security

Alexei Likhachev, head of the Russian state nuclear energy corporation Rosatom, accused Ukrainian forces of carrying out Friday's attack on oil tankers near the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant. Two Russian soldiers were reportedly killed in the attack, and several others were injured.

According to Likhachev, the fuel was bound for a pumping station as part of a civilian mission to keep diesel generators running. These generators are crucial for cooling nuclear fuel in the reactors in the event of a failure in the external power supply.

The Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant, the largest of its kind in Europe, has been under Russian control since the start of the invasion in 2022. Although it is not currently generating electricity, both sides regularly accuse each other of jeopardizing its safety.

Ukraine insists on the withdrawal of Russian troops and the return of the facility to Ukrainian control. Observers from the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) continuously monitor compliance with nuclear safety standards and the repair of external power lines on site.

(Reuters, max)