Ukraine says it hit targets in region where UN nuclear team is working

Ukraine carried out strikes in the Enerhodar region, where the Russian-controlled Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant (above) is located. PHOTO: EPA-EFE

KYIV - Ukraine's military said it had carried out strikes against Russian positions in the region around the southern town of Enerhodar on Friday, near a nuclear power plant where UN experts are working.

The revelation by the armed forces' general staff was unusual, since the military rarely gives details of specific targets.

A team from the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) is gathering data at the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power station, on the edge of Russian-occupied Enerhodar.

"It has been confirmed that in the region around the towns of Kherson and Enerhodar, precise strikes by our armed forces destroyed three enemy artillery systems as well as a warehouse with ammunition and up to a company of soldiers," the general staff said in a Facebook post.

It did not give more details about the strikes.

Kherson is about 300km south-west of Enerhodar.

Russia has repeatedly accused Ukraine of shelling the nuclear power plant.

Kyiv rejects the charge, saying pro-Moscow forces are responsible for attacking the facility.

Russia’s defence ministry said in its daily briefing on Saturday that Ukrainian forces attempted to capture the nuclear power plant in an attack on Friday night.

The ministry said a Ukrainian naval force of more than 250 troops attempted to land on the coast of a lake near the Zaporizhzhia plant.

“Despite the presence of representatives of the International Atomic Energy Agency at the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant, the Kyiv regime once again attempted to seize the plant,” the defence ministry said.

Russia said its forces foiled the attack with strikes from military helicopters and fighter jets, destroying 20 Ukrainian vessels and causing others to scatter and call off the attack.

 

 

 

REUTERS

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