War in Ukraine: Russia fires rockets near Zaporizhia nuclear plant

Rockets in cities west of Europe’s largest nuclear power plant in southern Ukraine was launched by Russia on Monday morning (22/8). At the same time, Kyiv announced that it was putting a “block” on the gatherings for the anniversary of independence from Soviet rule for fear of Russian attacks.

Artillery and rocket fire near the Zaporizhia nuclear reactor complexon the Russian-occupied south bank of the Dnieper River, have sparked fears of nuclear disaster and calls for demilitarization of the surrounding area.

Ukraine and Russia blame each other for the bombings, some of which hit the factory which was seized by Russian forces shortly after it began war in February but still operates mainly with Ukrainian technicians.

Overnight, volleys of Russian rockets hit Nikopol, which is across the Dnieper from Russian-occupied Enerhodar, where the Zaporizhia factory is located, and the nearby towns of Kriviy Rikh and Sinelnikovsky, injuring at least four people, he wrote today in Telegram regional governor Valentin Reznichenko.

Ukraine also reported, as reported by the Athens News Agency, that the Russian missile strike in Voznesensk, southwest and not far from the country’s second largest nuclear power plant.

Warnings from Volodymyr Zelensky

The Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky warned of the risk of more serious attacks ahead of the 31st anniversary of Ukraine’s first independence from Soviet rule the day after Wednesday.

Local authorities in Kyiv have banned large public events, rallies and other gatherings planned in connection with the anniversary in the capital from today until Thursday due to possible rocket attacks, according to a document released by the Kyiv military administration and signed by its head, Mykola Zirnov.

Zelensky said Moscow could try “something particularly bad” ahead of August 24where it also marks six months since the start of the Russian invasion.

Zelensky said he had discussed “all threats” with his French counterpart Emmanuel Macron and that messages had also been sent to other leaders, including Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres.

“All of Ukraine’s partners have been informed about what the terrorist state may be preparing for this week,” Zelensky said in his nightly video message, referring to Russia.

In its morning briefing, Ukraine’s general staff said Russian forces had advanced in the Blagodnatne region in the direction of the city of Mykolayiv, a major target in the south.

Russia is also trying to regain momentum towards Pisky, Bakhmut and Kramatorsk, key cities in Donetsk province which, along with neighboring Luhansk, captured by Moscow earlier this summer, make up the eastern Donbas region.

Russian artillery and multiple rocket launcher systems pounded areas of Solentar, Zaitseve and Biloghorifka near Bakhmut, the Ukrainian military command said in a statement.

At least two civilians were killed, the regional administration said. Russia denies targeting civilians.

Reuters cannot independently confirm reports about the battlefield.

In Russia, authorities are investigating an alleged car bombing outside Moscow that killed the daughter of Alexander Dugin, a Russian ultranationalist who favors the absorption of Ukraine by Russia.

While investigators said they were looking into “all versions” of who was responsible, Russia’s foreign ministry hypothesized that there could be a link with Ukraine, which an adviser to Zelensky dismissed.

“Ukraine, of course, has nothing to do with this, because we are not a criminal state, like the Russian Federation, and moreover we are not a terrorist state,” Mykhailo Podoliak said on Ukrainian television.