War in Ukraine: Zaporizhia at the heart of tensions, Zhytomyr attacked by Russian drones… an update on the situation

Update on the situation. EPA – SERGEY KOZLOV

Every day, Midi Libre takes stock of the situation in Ukraine. This Monday, April 8, 2024, discover the latest news around this conflict.

Russia and Ukraine accuse each other of drone attacks on the Zaporizhzhia power plant

Moscow and kyiv accused each other this Monday, April 8, of having attacked the Zaporizhia nuclear power plant, occupied by Russia in southern Ukraine and periodically targeted, using drones. dangerous bombings.

This nuclear power plant, the largest in Europe with six reactors, was targeted by several drones on Sunday April 7 then again by a device this Monday, according to its administration installed by Moscow.

"Attempts by the Ukrainian armed forces to attack the Zaporizhia nuclear power plant continue", she said on Telegram, referring to "a kamikaze drone shot down above the power plant" who "fell on the roof" of reactor number 6, without constituting a danger for the installation.

The day before, the Russian atomic agency Rosatom had reported that a drone had crashed into the power plant's canteen, injuring three people and others on a quay. loading and on the roof of one of the reactors.

Ukraine, for its part, accused Russia of broadcasting "false" information and assured that it was Russian forces who themselves attacked with drones the power station they have occupied since March 2022. The head of the Ukrainian center for combating disinformation, Andriï Kovalenko, blamed a & ;quot;campaign of provocation and falsification" of Russia aiming to make believe "that the threat to the plant and nuclear security comes from Ukraine".

A Ukrainian intelligence spokesperson, Andriï Ioussof, previously accused Moscow of carrying out "simulated strikes". "Ukraine has nothing to do with the slightest armed provocation inside the power plant&amp ;quot;, he assured Sunday.

The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), which has a team of experts on the site of the plant, denounced this Sunday after the first attack a "major escalation" and "a serious incident that could potentially undermine the integrity of the reactor containment".

She indicated on one of its six reactors", without attributing them by name to Ukraine. According to its director Rafael Grossi, there were on Sunday "at least three direct impacts on the main containment structures" of the power station. Unlike Rosatom, the IAEA only reported one injury.

Russia launches 24 attack drones and damages infrastructure

Russia launched more than two dozen attack drones on Ukraine, damaging strategic infrastructure in the central Zhytomyr region and logistics facilities in the south, officials said. officials said this Monday, April 8.

The city council of Zviahel in Ukraine's Zhytomyr region asked the population to stay sheltered after Russia's air attack on a critical infrastructure object caused air pollution.

"Russia hit a piece of community infrastructure last night", said the municipal council on the Telegram messaging application.

"There were no casualties among the civilian population. Currently there is a direct threat of air pollution, so it is recommended to stay indoors with windows closed."

Officials did not provide further details. The Ukrainian Air Force said on Telegram that its air defense downed 17 of the 24 Iranian-made Shahed drones used by Russia in its attack, over areas of Ukraine. Odessa, Mykolaiv, Kirovohrad, Khmelnytskyi and Zhytomyr.

A Kh-59 guided aerial missile launched by Russia was destroyed over the Dnipropetrovsk region.

Four drones were destroyed over the southern Odessa region, Governor Oleh Kiper said, adding that a logistics and transportation facility as well as# 39;a gas station were damaged. There were no casualties in the attack, he added.

Reuters was unable to independently verify this information. There was no immediate comment from Russia.