Russia reports that Ukrainian drone strikes targeted nuclear facilities, igniting fires in the Kursk and Leningrad regions as Ukraine celebrated its 34th Independence Day.
Russian officials have announced that Ukrainian drone attacks resulted in a fire at a nuclear power plant in the Kursk region. This incident coincided with Ukraine’s 34th Independence Day, commemorating its separation from the Soviet Union in 1991.
According to Russian sources, the drone strikes impacted several power facilities in the area. The fire at the nuclear plant was quickly extinguished, and while a transformer sustained damage, authorities reported that radiation levels remained normal and no injuries occurred.
The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), the U.N. nuclear watchdog, acknowledged awareness of media reports regarding a transformer fire attributed to military activity but stated it had not independently verified these claims.
Rafael Mariano Grossi, the IAEA Director General, emphasized the importance of safeguarding nuclear facilities, asserting that “every nuclear facility must be protected at all times.”
In addition to the incident in Kursk, a fire also erupted at the port of Ust-Luga in Russia’s Leningrad region, which houses a significant fuel export terminal. The regional governor reported that approximately ten Ukrainian drones were intercepted in the vicinity, with debris from these drones believed to have ignited the blaze.
Russia’s Defense Ministry claimed that air defenses successfully intercepted 95 Ukrainian drones over Russian territory on the same day. Meanwhile, Ukraine’s air force reported that Russia launched 72 drones and decoys, along with a cruise missile overnight, with 48 of these drones being shot down or jammed.
In a video address from Kyiv’s Independence Square, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy spoke about the ongoing conflict and the future of Ukraine. He stated, “We are building a Ukraine that will have enough strength and power to live in security and peace,” while calling for a “just peace.” He further remarked on the significance of Ukraine’s agency in determining its future, saying, “What our future will be is up to us alone.”
Zelenskyy also referenced the recent U.S.-Russia summit in Alaska, expressing concerns that it might overshadow Ukrainian interests. “And the world knows this. And the world respects this. It respects Ukraine. It perceives Ukraine as an equal,” he asserted.
The situation remains tense as both nations continue to engage in military actions, with the potential for further escalation in the region.
Source: Original article