People have begun to flee the region around the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant after accusations from both sides led to panic among Ukrainians that a possible false flag operation is imminent. International affairs editor Dominic Waghorn says that Russia has set a precedent for such an event with the blowing of the Kakhovka dam.
“When the Russians accuse the Ukrainians of preparing to do something, it’s often a sign that they’re about to do it themselves, as we saw with the Kakhovka dam.” As well as the claims on blogs and President Zelesnkyy’s comments on the “possible explosives” seen on the roof, a Russian nuclear adviser said a Ukrainian attack was expected overnight on the plant on 5 July.
News agency sources indicate that some Russian troops have been withdrawn from the plant in recent days. Explosives placed on Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant roof could be there to feign Ukrainian shelling.
Explosives allegedly placed on the roofs of reactors at the Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant could be there to feign Ukrainian shelling, Sky’s defence analyst Professor Michael Clarke has said. Ukrainian intelligence suggests that reactors three and four have devices on the roofs that “look like explosives”.
Much has been made of the intelligence, with nuclear experts doubtful the devices could cause a major catastrophe because of their size and placement. Professor Clarke says that, if intelligence reports are correct, the devices could help Russia with a false flag operation.
Italian and Polish leaders Giorgia Meloni and Mateusz Morawiecki piled the pressure on some of their other NATO members ahead of a summit next week by calling for “real security guarantees” for Ukraine.
The summit, set to be held in Vilnius on 11-12 July, will see extensive discussions around how Ukraine’s potential membership could be achieved and other support packages. Italy and Poland are said to be “in perfect agreement” regarding their approaches to Ukraine and NATO – with both nations wanting more security guarantees for Kyiv. “Offering real security guarantees to Ukraine is also a key condition for the achievement in the future of a just and long-lasting peace,” Ms. Meloni said during a visit to Warsaw.
President Zelenskyy and a number of other European leaders have called for more support from NATO, with some members reluctant to bring Ukraine closer to the alliance while its conflict with Russia remains unresolved.
(With inputs from agencies)
