Up to 1,300 Russian soldiers occupy Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant

This information is reported by the National Resistance Center, based on data from Ukrainian underground sources.

Among these 1,300 soldiers are personnel from the Akhmat-1 unit from Chechnya and the Agat special rapid response unit from Penza, Russia. To blend in, some Russian soldiers wear ZNPP paramilitary guard uniforms instead of their usual Russian National Guard attire.

In addition, they are using the technical and basement areas of the station to store small arms and artillery ammunition. This is to supply both the troops stationed there and the forces in adjacent positions.

According to the National Resistance Center, the Russian army has also set up more than 20 minefields around the town and the station, covering a total length of about 6.5 km. This suggests that Russian forces fear a potential landing by Ukraine's Defense Forces from Dnipro.

"Despite the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) mission's visit this week, the route was carefully planned by the occupying army. The courtesy and hugs exchanged between IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi and the Russian leadership at the occupied nuclear power plant make it unsurprising that the team failed to notice the significant presence of Russian troops and weapons at the plant. For instance, they were again denied access to the western part of the two turbine halls. However, the organization’s representative office only recorded this fact and made no decision regarding the Rosatom representative office, which manages the ZNPP,” the National Resistance Center noted.

• A massive Russian missile attack on Monday, September 2, damaged a power line connecting the occupied Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant (ZNPP) to Ukraine's power grid.