President Vladimir Putin accused the Ukrainian military of attempting to strike a significant nuclear power plant in Russia’s conflict-ridden Kursk region.
“Today, the enemy tried to attack a nuclear power station,” Putin said during a government meeting, referring to the Kursk plant.
He added that the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) had been informed of the incident and that they promised to send specialists to assess the situation. “I hope they will follow through,” Putin said.
Acting Kursk region Governor Aleksei Smirnov assured Putin that the situation at the plant was “stable and under control.” He also mentioned that First Deputy Chief of Staff Sergei Kiriyenko and officials from Russia’s atomic energy agency had visited the facility on Thursday.
Earlier, a spokesperson for the UN nuclear agency announced that its head, Rafael Grossi, would visit the Kursk plant next week, following more than two weeks after Ukraine launched a surprise counteroffensive in the region.
Grossi had previously stated that he was “personally in contact with the relevant authorities of both countries” and would “continue to update the international community as appropriate.”
The IAEA reported that the Kursk nuclear plant has six units: two shut down, two fully operational, and two under construction.
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