Russian Air Strikes on Ukraine Cut Power to Nuclear Plant

Zaporizhzhia, Ukraine – Russian air strikes cut power to Ukraine’s largest nuclear plant, Zaporizhzhia, on Sunday. This has led to a UN warning of a potential nuclear disaster, especially as Russia refuses to provide details of the air strike that caused the power cut. Ukraine has accused Russia of retaliatory strikes following recent heavy fighting in the eastern Donbas region.

The Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant is one of the largest in Europe, providing 40% of Ukraine’s electricity. There are concerns that without power, the plant’s reactors may not function properly, resulting in a catastrophic meltdown. The UN called on Ukraine and Russia to resolve their conflict peacefully and urged all sides to respect international law.

Ukraine’s President, Volodymyr Zelensky, condemned the Russian air strikes and vowed to retaliate. He said, “We will not allow anyone to sabotage our nuclear power plants or threaten our national security.” NATO also condemned the attack and offered support to Ukraine.

Meanwhile, Russia denied any involvement in the attack and accused Ukraine of propagating false information. Russia’s Foreign Minister, Sergey Lavrov, said, “It is regrettable that Ukraine continues to make unfounded accusations against Russia. We call on Ukraine to cease provocations and engage in dialogue.”

The situation remains volatile, with both sides accusing each other of aggression. There are fears that any escalation in the conflict could lead to a wider and more destructive war.