Satellite detects new objects on Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant roof 

Radio Svoboda reports on Telegram

"The satellite images of ZNPP show the emergence of new objects on the roof of the Unit 4, the mining of which was reported by the General Staff," the report stated.

It is noted that the resolution of the image does not allow for a clear understanding of what exactly appeared on the roof.

"We can only say for sure that these objects are not on any other satellite image of Unit 4 over the past year and a half," the statement added.

The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine also reported that the roof of Unit 3 was mined.

Situation at the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant

Russian forces occupied Zaporizhzhia NPP in late February 2022. Since then, there has been a constant presence of personnel and military equipment, which the invading Russian troops store in machine rooms and occasionally deploy to positions for shelling the territories of the Nikopol district in the Dnipropetrovsk region, located on the other side of the Kakhovka Reservoir.

The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has a monitoring mission at the station, which is supposed to ensure that the nuclear power plant is not used as a military base, that it is not attacked, and that no fire is initiated from the NPP. Power outages at the nuclear power plant occur regularly though. Occupiers began importing explosives to the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant last year.

In May 2023 information emerged that the Russian forces had placed explosives in the turbine room of the  ZNPP’s fourth power unit. Additionally, the invading Russian forces have nearly completely destroyed the emergency readiness and response system at the nuclear power plant.

On June 22, the Director-General of the IAEA, after visiting ZNPP Grossi, stated that the situation at the plant is extremely unstable. On the same day, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced that intelligence had received information that Russia was considering a scenario for a terrorist act at the temporarily occupied Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant, which would cause a radiation release. He also emphasized that the world has sufficient strength to prevent any radiation incidents and even a radiation catastrophe – action must be taken and pressure must be applied. However, the spokesperson for the President of the Russian Federation, Dmitry Peskov, called Zelenskyy's statement a lie.

In turn, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine expects a clear assessment from the IAEA regarding Russia's criminal actions and has appealed to the international community, including the Group of Seven (G7) and the European Union, to take urgent measures to prevent a nuclear catastrophe at the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant.

According to the ISW’s report, in the event of a terrorist act at the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant, the Russian occupation forces in Enerhodar will not be able to control its consequences. Presumably, by indicating preparations for sabotage at the plant, the Russians are trying to persuade the Armed Forces of Ukraine to refrain from conducting counteroffensive operations in this area.

The Ministry of Internal Affairs has established headquarters for assistance, and rescue teams will conduct training to mitigate the consequences of a possible terrorist attack by Russians at the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant.

The Head of the Main Intelligence Directorate, Kyrylo Budanov, stated that Russia has completed preparations for a terrorist act at the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant.

On June 25, Zelenskyy held talks with Biden, Trudeau, and Duda, noting that "the world is not reacting adequately to the situation at the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant."

Energoatom reported that as of 27 June, the situation at the temporarily occupied Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant was under control, with the water level in the cooling pond stable.

On June 29, large-scale exercises were held in four regions of Ukraine to prepare for a possible terrorist attack on the ZNPP.

On June 30, the Main Intelligence Directorate reported that the occupying Russian forces were gradually leaving the ZNPP, and that Ukrainian employees who had signed a contract with Rosatom also received evacuation recommendations. In addition, the plant's staff received an order to blame Ukraine in any emergency situation.

The head of the Ukrainian Defense Ministry's Main Intelligence Directorate, Kyrylo Budanov, said that Russian troops have prepared everything for a man-made disaster at the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant.

In his turn, Ukrainian Armed Forces Commander-in-Chief Valeriy Zaluzhnyi said that the Ukrainian counteroffensive and the process of Ukraine regaining control over ZNPP would continue even despite Russian nuclear blackmail.

On July 2, the mayor of the temporarily occupied Enerhodar, Dmytro Orlov, said that some Rosatom employees and collaborators who had signed a contract with the company, had left ZNPP.

On July 4, the Ukrainian Armed Forces officially reported that Russian troops were preparing a provocation at ZNPP: Russians placed suspicious devices similar to explosives on the roof of power units 3 and 4.

President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy spoke with French President Emmanuel Macron and warned him that Russia was preparing provocations at the Zaporizhzhia NPP.