- Fire in the cooling system of Saporizhskaya nuclear power plant extinguished
In the occupied nuclear power plant Zaporizhzhia in Enerhodar, southern Ukraine, a fire broke out at the cooling system in the evening, according to the Russian narrative. The fire was completely extinguished by night, as reported by a Russian-appointed official on Telegram.
The Russian-appointed governor of the region, Yevgeny Balitsky, stated earlier that there had been a Ukrainian attack on the area around the power plant, but there was no danger as all blocks of the NPP were shut down. Radiation levels were normal. In the morning, Balitsky reported that security measures at all strategic facilities in the region had been increased on the orders of Kremlin chief Vladimir Putin.
From the Russian side, it was reported that a Ukrainian combat drone had caused significant damage to the infrastructure of the NPP. These claims could not be independently verified at first.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy accused Russia of setting fire to the NPP. While radiation levels were normal, he wrote on the X platform, "But as long as the Russian terrorists control the nuclear power plant, the situation cannot be normal." He called for an immediate reaction from the international community and the IAEA.
Russia captured Europe's largest nuclear power plant shortly after the start of its invasion and has held it since. Both sides blame each other for attacks on the power plant or sabotage. Russia has repeatedly complained about Ukrainian drone attacks. Due to security concerns, the reactors were shut down in 2022 but still need to be cooled. IAEA observers are stationed on the site.
Ukraine continues to advance near Kursk
Regular Ukrainian troops have continued their push into Russian territory in the Kursk region. Neither the Russian nor the Ukrainian side provided precise details about the advance, but Russian military bloggers reported further Ukrainian advancement into Russian territory and heavy fighting around numerous settlements. Mobile combat groups of Ukrainians, who repeatedly exploited front gaps for quick attacks, caused significant problems for Russian units and dealt heavy blows.
The acting governor of the Kursk region, Alexei Smirnov, reported on the Telegram platform that more means and reinforcements were on the way. "The armed forces are doing everything to protect the civilian population."
The General Staff in Kyiv provided few details about the actual fighting in the Kursk area. The situation report merely stated that Russian long-range artillery and combat aircraft targeted the area around Sumy. This zone is considered a deployment area and supply route for Ukrainian units in the Kursk region.
Continuing Russian pressure in eastern Ukraine
Apart from the fighting around the Ukrainian advance into Russian territory in Kursk, Russian troops have continued their attacks in eastern Ukraine. The main focus of the fighting was around Torez and Pokrovsk, according to the Ukrainian General Staff in Kyiv.
The heaviest fighting was registered at Pokrovsk on the outskirts of the Donbass. In total, Russian units made 26 attempts since morning to break through Ukrainian defense lines. The attacks were repelled. Independent confirmation of the representations was not possible.
In Torez, Russian troops reportedly attempted once again to advance towards the town of Nju Jork (New York). These attacks were also repelled, it was reported. Additionally, the city of Torez became the target of Russian air strikes.
Zelensky: Russian launch sites precisely recorded
Ukraine has a precise overview of the locations within Russia from which rockets, artillery, or combat drones are fired at Ukrainian cities. "We are registering all the places from which the Russian army is striking," said President Zelensky in his evening video address. This applies to the regions of Voronezh, Kursk, and Belgorod, as well as other areas of Russia.
Since the beginning of this summer alone, almost 2,000 attacks on the Ukrainian region of Sumy have been carried out from the Kursk region - artillery, mortars, drones. "We are recording every rocket impact, and each of these attacks deserves an appropriate response."
Zelensky announced a swift response to these attacks. "We will respond with long-range strikes on Russian rocket launch sites and the corresponding destruction of Russian military logistics," he said.
However, he will once again have to speak with Ukraine's partners to obtain their permission to use the heavy weapons they have supplied for attacks on targets within Russian territory. "Just as air defense protects lives, lifting restrictions on long-range strikes will save thousands of lives."
Kyiv has been negotiating with Western partners for months to obtain permission to use rockets and other heavy weapons against military and logistics targets within Russia. So far, the Ukrainian military can only use drones of its own production for such attacks. However, these unmanned aircraft have limited explosive power.
Russia attacked Ukraine overnight on Sunday with both rockets and so-called kamikaze drones. The constant nightly attacks are causing unrest among the civilian population in many places, with heavy damage and casualties often reported.
Following the accusations of a Ukrainian attack on the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant, the Russian-appointed governor, Yevgeny Balitsky, stated that all blocks of the plant were shut down and radiation levels were normal. Despite this, Balitsky reported an increase in security measures at strategic facilities in the region on orders from Vladimir Putin. (The Russian-appointed governor's statements regarding the plant and security measures)
Russia's claims of a Ukrainian combat drone causing damage to the NPP could not be independently verified, but Russian military bloggers reported further Ukrainian advancement into Russian territory and heavy fighting around numerous settlements in the Kursk region. (Russian claims about Ukrainian drone damage and fighting in the Kursk region)
