Russia is directly threatening “nuclear safety” in Europe with its latest strikes targeting substations linked to two major atomic plants, Kyiv has warned. Concern over a “catastrophic incident” comes as eerie footage shows Ukraine’s major cities bathed in darkness, with Vladimir Putin seeking to bring the country to its knees in the coming weeks by destroying power and heating supplies in time for the winter freeze.
The Russian leader was accused of “nuclear blackmail” after his forces targeted substations linked to two Ukrainian atomic power plants in Khmelnytskyi and Rivne. “These were not accidental but well-planned strikes,” warned Ukraine’s foreign minister Andrei Sybiha. “Russia is deliberately endangering nuclear safety in Europe.” Kyiv has now demanded an urgent meeting of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) over the “unacceptable risks”.
When the Chernobyl nuclear power plant in Ukraine exploded in 1986, the radioactive pollution reached Britain and Ireland.
“We also urge all states that value nuclear safety – particularly China and India – to demand Russia stop reckless attacks on nuclear energy that risk a catastrophic incident.
“There needs to be global pressure to force Moscow to stop its nuclear blackmail.”
Concerted Russian strikes are aimed at dismantling coal, gas, oil and hydro power plants which provide vital electricity and hot water for heating.
The cynical campaign is aimed at freezing civilians in a bid to crush Ukraine’s resistance to force their surrender. Temperatures are expected to plunge below zero this month across Ukraine.
Kyiv and Kharkiv – Ukraine’s two major cities – were shrouded in darkness overnight due to Putin strikes. Poltava was without electricity, water and heating. Dozens of cities and towns faced hours of blackouts as the transmission system utility Ukrenergo was forced to ration its supplies.
There was unalloyed glee and new threats from Russian war channels at the misery inflicted on their Ukrainian cousins.
“After finishing with the thermal and hydro power plants, something will have to be done with the nuclear power plants and power lines from Europe,” stated the Fighterbomber channel. “But, damn, a thousand drones and a dozen missiles a day can solve this issue…
“Ukraine is currently in the worst state during the entire special military operation. It has never been worse. If we keep them in this state for a couple of months, it will be great.”
Ukrainian war commentator Denis Kazansky said: “Russian propaganda called Kharkiv a ‘Russian city’.
“Now they want to create a humanitarian disaster in the city and rejoice in the suffering of the civilian population, including the elderly, disabled, and children.
“Not so long ago, there were quite strong sympathies for the Russian Federation in the city.
“And this is the kind of gratitude its residents receive from the Russians.”
In Dnipro, rescuers were pulling children and the elderly from the rubble of a residential building where at least three died and 11 were wounded in a weekend Putin strike on ordinary civilians.
Ukraine hit back, leaving more than 30,000 without power in the Russian region of Belgorod. Explosions also rocked the Russian city of Voronezh, with a strike on a thermal power plant triggering a fire at the facility and resulting in electricity cuts.