Russia calls Zelensky’s Chernobyl accusation staged ‘nuclear blackmail’
Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said on Feb 14 that a Russian drone had caused significant damage to the radiation containment shelter at the Chernobyl nuclear power plant.
PHOTO: REUTERS
Follow topic:
MOSCOW – Russia said on Feb 14 that an accusation from Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky that a Russian drone had struck the Chernobyl nuclear power plant was a staged “provocation” by Kyiv to blackmail the West into giving it more aid.
Mr Zelensky said on Feb 14 that a Russian drone had caused significant damage to the radiation containment shelter at the plant, but that radiation levels remained normal after the incident
Ms Maria Zakharova, a spokeswoman for the Russian Foreign Ministry, accused Mr Zelensky of orchestrating the alleged drone attack to coincide with the Munich event as part of a lobbying effort to secure more weapons and money from the West.
“There was never any doubt that Zelensky would not come to the Munich conference empty-handed... the hands of the Kyiv regime must always be busy with some children’s rattles to distract the attention of the conference participants,” Ms Zakharova told a news briefing in Moscow.
“Zelensky travels with performances that are backed up by provocations.”
Accusing Kyiv of using nuclear plants for “blackmail”, she said: “Is there any doubt in anyone’s mind that this is a provocation? There can be no doubt. A performance was needed to lobby for arms deliveries and convince the world. A scary, bloody and very dangerous performance.” REUTERS
