Russians plotting provocation at ZNPP involving heavy weaponry - Ukraine’s defense intel

The Main Intelligence Directorate of the Ministry of Defense has warned of yet another plot by Russia to carry out acts of provocation at the Zaporizhhia Nuclear Power Plant involving heavy weapons.

The agency posted the corresponding report on its Telegram channel, Ukrinform saw.

"The occupiers are likely plotting to set up in the near future yet another armed provocation on the territory of the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant. To this end, the ‘military counter-intelligence department’ of the FSB is circulating information among the personnel of the occupation contingent about the alleged preparation by the Ukrainian Security and Defense Forces of an assault operation targeting the ZNPP," the report reads.

The FSB claims that an "assault" on the nuclear plant will take place at the end of July. "Assault groups" and unnamed "volunteer armed units of Ukraine" are supposed to take part in the effort, according to the Russian special service, the GUR added.

The Ukrainian defense intelligence agency believes that the emergence of such information may indicate that the occupiers are preparing a "false flag" operation that will lead to a large-scale accident at the ZNPP.

According to the GUR, another simulated shelling of the ZNPP is currently being prepared with the aim of further blaming Ukraine.

It should be recalled that on July 17, NEC Energoatom reported that they regularly receive information about the mining of the NPP by the Russian military.

Before that, on July 4, the Armed Forces of Ukraine officially warned about the possible provocations at the ZNPP by Russian invaders.

The IAEA announced on July 12 that the organization's experts found neither mines nor explosives during the inspection of the ZNPP. However, the agency admitted that it is still waiting for permission from the Russians to access the roofs of reactors 3 and 4, where explosives could have been planted.