Russia Claims Ukrainians Set Fire Near Zaporizhzhia Power Plant Themselves

Vasily Nebenzya, the Russian Ambassador to the United Nations, on Friday accused “Ukrainian saboteurs” of setting hearth to a constructing close to the Zaporizhzhia nuclear energy plant because the Russian invasion into Ukraine continues.

The ambassador stated {that a} Russian cellular patrol was current at a territory that’s adjoining to the Zaporizhzhia nuclear energy plant, which is Europe’s largest one, and claimed that they have been attacked by a Ukrainian “sabotage group in order to provoke return fire on the building.”

“There was a heavy small fire that was opened on Russian troops from the windows of several floors of the training complex that is located just outside the territory of the nuclear power plant,” he stated throughout a U.N. Security Council assembly on Friday. “The Russian patrol returned fire on the firing points of the Ukrainian saboteurs in the building of the training complex. As they were leaving, the Ukrainian sabotage group set fire to the training facility,” including, “Let me emphasize once again that this building is not located on the territory of this Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant.”

The assault was reported Thursday evening when Ukraine’s Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba claimed on Twitter that Russian troops have been attacking the nuclear energy plant, which is positioned round 400 miles from Kyiv.

“Russian army is firing from all sides upon Zaporizhzhia NPP, the largest nuclear power plant in Europe. Fire has already broke out. If it blows up, it will be 10 times larger than Chernobyl! Russians must IMMEDIATELY cease the fire, allow firefighters, establish a security zone!” he tweeted.

The International Atomic Energy Agency’s (IAEA) director-general, Rafael Mariano Grossi, stated on Friday {that a} “projectile” hit a coaching facility on the plant that isn’t a part of the reactor.

“It’s important to say that all the safety systems of the six reactors at the plant were not affected at all, and that there has been no release of radioactive material,” he stated. “[There is] no release of radioactive material.”

Still, the assault on the plant sparked world considerations, with officers saying that Ukrainian firefighters have been unable to entry the fireplace at first, however finally have been capable of put out the flames. However, Russian troops now have management over the plant.

The U.S. Embassy in Kyiv known as the assault a “war crime” and stated Russian President Vladimir Putin’s resolution to shell the plant “takes his reign of terror one step further.”

Meanwhile, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky known as the assault “nuclear terrorism” dedicated by Russia.

He added that if an explosion had occurred because of the assault, it might have brought about a important state of affairs that will have been equal to “six Chernobyls.” The Chernobyl energy plant had 4 nuclear crops, however just one exploded in 1986.

Over half of Ukraine’s nuclear reactors have been offline as of Friday after Russian forces took management over the nuclear energy plant. Eight of the 15 reactors positioned in Ukraine have been disconnected from the ability grid as of March 4, in response to the State Nuclear Regulatory Inspectorate of Ukraine.

Newsweek contacted the State Nuclear Regulatory Inspectorate of Ukraine for remark and can replace the story as soon as a response is obtained.