Russian troops are said to have “wired power units of the Zaporizhia nuclear power plant with explosives,” the Center for Strategic Communications and Information Security at the Ministry of Culture and Information Policy of Ukraine said on Twitter. The commander of the Russian troops stationed in the power plant had therefore declared himself ready “to blow up the power plant, which would lead to a nuclear catastrophe”.
The Ukrainian authorities quote him as saying: “This will either be Russian land or scorched earth.” He told his soldiers that no matter how difficult the orders may be, they must carry them out “with honor”.
Earlier, a representative of the Ukrainian defense intelligence service had already reported about explosives on the energy units of the power plant, the agency reports.
The Zaporizhia nuclear power plant is the most powerful nuclear power plant in Europe. Russian troops have occupied it for months. (tsp)
Grain exports from Ukraine’s Black Sea ports, which resumed after a month-long blockade by Russia, are continuing, according to Turkish sources. Two other ships loaded with grain ran out on Monday, according to the Defense Ministry in Ankara. The “Sacura” left Jusni with 11,000 tons of soybeans on board, the destination is Italy. The “Arizona” in turn transports 48,458 tons of corn from Chernomorsk to southern Turkey. Ukrainian Minister of Infrastructure Olexander Kubrakov later confirmed the information on Twitter.
So far, eight ships carrying grain have left Ukrainian ports since the beginning of August. They were among dozens of freighters that had been stranded there since the war began in February because of the Russian naval blockade and the Ukrainian military’s mining of its own ports.
A cargo ship docked in a Ukrainian port for the first time on Sunday. “The bulk carrier Fulmar S has arrived at the port of Chornomorsk and is ready for loading,” Ukraine’s Ministry of Infrastructure announced on Telegram. With the arrival of the “Fulmar S”, the grain corridor now has an “entrance and exit”, explained Infrastructure Minister Kubrakov. The resumption of shipping traffic and the associated grain shipments from Ukraine are important for stabilizing food prices worldwide. (Reuters, dpa)
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has threatened Russia with breaking off talks if Russia pushes ahead with annexing more Ukrainian territories. In his video speech, Zelenskyy refers to the referendums announced by the Russian side in occupied territories about annexation to Russia. “If the occupiers continue down the path of pseudo-referendums, they will end all opportunities for dialogue with Ukraine and the free world,” says Zelenskyy.
In the first few weeks after the Russian invasion in February, delegations from both sides met repeatedly for talks, which have not been continued since the end of March. Russia had already annexed Crimea in 2014, citing an internationally unrecognized referendum. (Reuters)
We reject Russia’s war of aggression, which violates international law, without ifs and buts, with the utmost determination. And in the same way we stand in solidarity with the Ukrainian civilian population, the Ukraine, which has to suffer this aggressive warrior. And that’s not even a topic of discussion in the party.
