Russia accuses Ukraine of attempting to attack Kursk nuclear plant

Russian President Vladimir Putin on Thursday (August 22) said that Ukraine attempted to attack the Kursk Nuclear Power Plant, located in the country'sregion near the border. This area experienced an incursion by Kyiv's forces over two weeks ago.

What did Putin claim about the Kursk nuclear power plant?

During a meeting in Moscow concerning the Russian border regions of Belgorod, Bryansk, and Kursk, Putin stated, “The enemy tried to strike the (Kursk) nuclear power plant last night.”

He also noted that the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) had been informed and had agreed to send experts to assess the situation at the plant.

What is the current situation at the plant?

During the meeting in Moscow, the acting Governor ofKursk, Alexey Smirnov assuredthat the plant's situation remained stable. Earlier, the Russian defence ministry reported intercepting a Ukrainian droneover the Kursk region during an overnight attack.

Ukrainian officials have not yet responded to these claims.

Accusations between Ukraine and Russia regarding nuclear safety

Throughout the 2.5-year conflict, Ukraine and Russia have tradedaccusations regarding threats to nuclear safety. Russian forces initially took control of the abandoned Chernobyl plant and Europe’s largest nuclear facility, the Zaporizhzhia plant, at the start of their large-scale military offensive.

Members of Indian Diaspora expressed optimism on PM Modi's visit to Ukraine

Russia continues to control the Zaporizhzhia site and has faced accusations of "nuclear blackmail" from Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. Moscow, however, claims Ukrainian forces have attempted multiple drone strikes on the plant.

Indian PM’s message ahead of his Ukraine visit

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, speaking in Poland on Thursday, stressed that conflicts cannot be resolved through combat. His upcomingvisitto Kyiv is the first by an Indian premier.

Modi is expected to advocate for a peaceful resolution to the ongoing conflict that began with Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. The Indian government has avoided directly condemning Russia unlike the West and hasinstead promoteddialogue between both sides.

“It is India’s strong belief that no problem can be resolved on a battlefield,” the Indian PMsaid. He added that India supports “dialogue and diplomacy for restoration of peace and stability as soon as possible” and condemned “the loss of innocent lives in any conflict.”

Disclaimer: A number of claims and counterclaims are being made on Ukraine-Russia war on the ground and online. While WION takes utmost care to accurately and responsibly report ongoing developments, we cannot independently verify the authenticity of all statements, photos and videos

(With inputs from agencies)