War in Ukraine: Kursk nuclear power plant threatened by massive Russian incursion

For a week now, Ukraine has been increasing its attacks in Russia. Enough to weigh on the Kremlin's strategy, which is launching an anti-terrorist operation, organizing the protection of a nuclear power plant and even considering population displacements.

Russia has sent military reinforcements to the southern Kursk region and introduced anti-terrorism measures in areas bordering Ukraine, following an incursion by the Ukrainian army into its territory. According to a Russian official, quoted by BFMTV, this incursion poses a threat to the region's nuclear power plant.

A video released

A video purporting to show Ukrainian forces controlling a town near the border has been released by Ukrainian forces, the first evidence of their advance in the area. Reuters was unable to verify the video.

A separate video circulated on social media on Friday and verified by Reuters showed a convoy of Russian military trucks set on fire along a highway in the Kursk region.

See also:War in Ukraine: Bargaining Chip, Diversion… The Real Reasons for kyiv’s Massive Attack on Russia

“Anti-Terrorist Operation”

About fifteen trucks can be seen, one of which bears the Z mark that Russia has been using as a symbol of its “special military operation” in Ukraine since February 2022. Dead bodies are also visible in some of the vehicles.

The acting governor of the Kursk region, Alexei Smirnov, said that drone debris had fallen on a power substation near the city of Kurchatov in western Russia. The Kursk nuclear power plant, which comprises four reactors, is located in Kurchatov.

The head of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) called on both sides to exercise restraint due to the proximity of the plant, which is 60 kilometres from the border.

Russian diplomats in Vienna told the IAEA that fragments likely from missiles had been found, but there was no evidence of an attack on the plant. Ukrainian forces entered the Kursk region on Tuesday in one of their largest incursions into Russian territory since the conflict began.

Russian news agencies reported early Saturday that the National Anti-Terrorism Committee had implemented counter-terrorism measures in the Kursk, Bryansk and Belgorod regions.

Population displacement ?

The decision, taken by Alexander Bortnikov, head of Russia's top intelligence service (FSB), was in response to “Ukraine's unprecedented attempt to destabilize the situation in several regions," according to a press release.

RIA news agency reported that the measures included possible population displacements, restrictions on movement and increased security around sensitive sites.

The Russian Defense Ministry said Friday that Russian forces “continue to repel the attempted invasion of the Ukrainian armed forces into the territory of the Russian Federation.”

Two days ago, General Valery Gerasimov, chief of the General Staff of the Russian Armed Forces, told President Vladimir Putin that the August 6 incursion was stopped.