Moscow has no lines it cannot cross, after Kakhovka, Russians may attack ZNPP next - Galushchenko
Ukrainian Energy Minister German Galushchenko believes that Russia has no lines it cannot cross. After the Kakhovka hydroelectric power plant (HPP) dam, the next Russian terrorist attack could be on Zaporizhzhia NPP.
According to Ukrinform, he said this in an interview with the Associated Press (AP).
The catastrophic explosion of the Kakhovka HPP dam made Ukraine concerned that Moscow could stage a terrorist attack on ZNPP to spread panic and delay the Ukrainian offensive on the front line, the Ukrainian energy minister stated.
The energy minister noted that fears of a terrorist attack at the Kakhovka HPP had been expressed before.
"For many people, it sounded absurd, but when it happened (Kakhovka HPP blast - Ed.), everyone realized that there are no lines that Russia cannot cross. Of course, this is all connected with the counteroffensive of the Armed Forces of Ukraine," the minister said.
According to him, this justifies the level of alarm that the Ukrainian leadership has been raising in recent weeks about a possible Russian plan to attack the nuclear power plant in a possible false flag operation.
Drone and satellite imagery obtained by the Associated Press showed unidentified white objects on the roof of the plant's fourth unit.
Ukraine's military intelligence has been saying for weeks that Russia is planning a "large-scale provocation" at Europe's largest nuclear power plant in the southeast of the country.
Experts spoken to by AP were unable to identify the objects seen on the roof of the plant.
Galushchenko emphasized that representatives of IAEA mission are present at the occupied ZNPP and can inform the world community about the current situation at the plant. At the same time, Russians do not allow IAEA representatives to all areas of this nuclear facility.
"Russians allowed IAEA to see only what they decided they could see, and that's the problem," the minister said.
As reported, German Galushchenko confirmed the information about negotiations with Bulgaria on the purchase of two Russian-made nuclear reactors and other energy equipment by Ukraine. According to the agreement, the Bulgarian state-owned energy company NEK plans to sell equipment from the unfinished Belene NPP (Bulgaria) worth at least EUR 600 million to Energoatom.