Russia Issues New Nuclear Warning as Ukraine’s Kursk Invasion Expands

Moscow accuses Ukraine of plotting an attack on an nuclear power plant in Kursk.

By Andrew Stanton

Aug 23, 2024 08:30 PM

Russia issued a warning regarding an supposed Ukrainian attack at a nuclear power plant in Kyiv continues to invading Kursk.

Kyiv began its unexpected incursion into Kursk, which is located in the Ukraine’s Sumy region on August 6. Since that time, Ukrainian forces have seized control of 1250 acres (482 acres) in Russian territory, as well as the establishment of 92 villages, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky announced on Monday.

The following day, Russian minister of foreign affairs spokesperson Maria Zakharova told state media outlet Tass that Ukraine is believed to have attempted to attack the Kursk Nuclear Power Plant (NPP) by using a drone, warning that there needs to have an inquiry into the reported attack by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).

“The IAEA must immediately respond to the act of nuclear terrorism on the part of the Kiev regime,” she stated.

Ukraine has not made any comment on about whether they tried to take on the NPP. Newsweekcould be unable to independently confirm Russia’s assertions.

In a statement issued on Thursday in a statement on Thursday, the IAEA said that they’d received a report from Russia they had found the remains of drones had been located about 100 metres (roughly 332 feet) far from the nuclear plant’s spent fuel storage facility.

IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi is expected to visit the NPP next week, and could speak about the alleged attack according to the statement.

“Military activity in the vicinity of a nuclear power plant is a serious risk to nuclear safety and security. My visit to KNPP next week will provide us with timely access to independently assess the situation,” the official stated.

Newsweekreached for comment from Ukraine’s foreign ministry by email and also to the IAEA through its contact form for media to request comments.

Russian president Vladimir Putin speaks on March 12 in Moscow. The previous Friday Russia has accused Ukraine of attempts to attack an reactor at a nuclear power station. Russian president Vladimir Putin speaks on March 12 in Moscow. In the last day of his presidency, Russia accused Ukraine of attempts to attack an reactor at a nuclear power station. GAVRIIL GRIGOROV/POOL/AFP via Getty Images

The Kursk offensive comes nearly two years since Russian president Vladimir Putin first declared his “special military operation” into Ukraine and was dismissed by U.S. leaders and allies as not having a valid reason.

Russia initially set out to achieve winning quickly over Ukraine as it was perceived to have a less powerful army. However, its stronger-than-expected response, bolstered by Western financial support, has blocked Russia from making an easy win, and the war continues to rage on.

Ukraine is said to have taken greater territory within the Kursk region than Russia has taken in Ukraine since the beginning of the year. It is the first time that foreign forces took over Russian territories in the years since World War II. Zelensky claims that Ukraine had control over at the least 80 settlements within Kursk.

The attack, which took Russia by surprise It has forced Moscow to shift resources and manpower from the frontline of its incursions in Ukraine.

Regional officials informed Putin this week that 15,000 Kursk residents have been forced to leave their homes as a result of the invasion.

The war, which started on February 20, 2022 has for a long time caused concern over nuclear technology due to the fact that Russia has nuclear weapons, and large swaths the region are driven by nuclear energy.