Russian Nuclear Agency Chief Says Ukraine Struck Fuel Trucks Near Zaporizhzhia Plant
The head of Russia's Rosatom state nuclear corporation says Ukrainian forces struck diesel fuel trucks near the Russian-held Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant on Friday, killing two Russian servicemen. Ukraine and the IAEA continue efforts to secure the plant amid ongoing mutual accusations.
Alexei Likhachev, head of Russia's state nuclear energy corporation Rosatom, said on Sunday that Ukrainian forces carried out a series of strikes on Friday against diesel fuel trucks supplying the Russian-controlled Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant. According to Likhachev, two Russian servicemen were killed in the strikes, while a number of others were injured, some seriously.
Likhachev said the strikes landed very close to the perimeter of the plant's site, and stressed that the affected troops had been supporting what he called a "purely civilian mission."
Why the fuel matters
The Zaporizhzhia plant, Europe's largest nuclear facility with six reactors, fell under Russian control in the early weeks of the invasion of Ukraine that began in February 2022. Diesel fuel is critical to the plant's safety, as backup generators use it to keep power running to cooling systems when the station's two external power lines are cut. Both lines were down for nearly three weeks in August and September. Currently, the fuel supply is not generating electricity at the plant.
Mutual accusations continue
Russia and Ukraine have repeatedly accused each other of actions that endanger the plant and raise the risk of a nuclear incident. Ukraine has called on Russia to relinquish control of the station and return it to Kyiv's operation, a demand Moscow has rejected.
The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) keeps a permanent observer team stationed at Zaporizhzhia as well as at Ukraine's three other operating nuclear plants. The agency has repeatedly mediated disputes between the two sides and last month helped broker a local ceasefire to allow repair work and the restoration of external power connections.
