Moscow Expands Military Presence at Europe’s Largest Nuclear Facility
On the territory of the Zaporizhzhya Nuclear Power Plant (ZNPP), an increase in Russian military presence has been observed, with armored personnel carriers and infantry positions.
The Gaze reports on it, referring to Militarnyi.
According to footage published in the Telegram group “Skeletons of Shevchik and Co,” at least four BTR-80 armored personnel carriers designed for combat operations have been spotted on the territory of the ZNPP. In addition, armed soldiers with Pecheneg machine guns, firing positions, and equipped firing points have been recorded.
The deployment of such forces and equipment inside the nuclear power plant is not related to ensuring its security. This indicates that the facility is being used exclusively for military purposes against Ukrainian units, creating an additional threat to the security of the region.
Such actions, which violate international law, are not the first of their kind and indicate deliberate illegal actions by the Russian side. For example, on August 22, 2022, the occupiers brought two additional armored personnel carriers and six special trucks to the repair zone of the plant.
The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine also confirmed an increase in the number of Russian occupation troops on the territory of the nuclear power plant on October 10-11.
“According to available information, the occupiers are using the station as a base for personnel, since the facility is not being shelled,” the statement said.
This is accompanied by claims from Russia's foreign intelligence service that “the West is preparing to blame Moscow” for a possible accident at the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant, and that “NATO is allegedly calling on Kyiv to carry out sabotage at the ZNPP.”
“Such accusations have nothing to do with reality and may indicate that Russia itself is preparing for a provocation at the ZNPP. However, the main purpose of such statements is to intimidate the population of Ukraine and European countries,” the Center for Countering Disinformation said in a statement.
Russian troops seized the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant on March 4, 2022, during the fighting for Enerhodar, and it subsequently came under the control of the Russian state-owned company Rosatom.
The plant is currently being operated by Ukrainian personnel working under pressure from the occupiers.
As The Gaze reported earlier, Ukraine’s temporarily occupied Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant (ZNPP) has regained access to external electricity after enduring a month-long blackout.