ZNPP mined, Russian militants with heavy weapons on its territory – Zelenskyy

President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated this in an interview with Spanish journalists.

"Today, there are experts who say that the cooling of the reactors is affected by occupiers destroying the Kakhovka hydroelectric power plant, and there are experts who deny this. What really has an impact? The fact that Zaporizhzhia NPP is mined. And this is a fact," Zelenskyy said.

According to him, the IAEA confirms the fact that the territory of ZNPP is mined, but they also say that the reactor itself is not mined. Zelenskyy added that, according to Ukrainian intelligence, about 500 armed Russian army soldiers are present at the plant.

"There is clear confirmation from our intelligence that there are about 500 militants stationed at the power plant. The IAEA does not know the exact number, but they say that there are a large number of militants with weapons and grenades. There are also heavy weapons on the territory of the plant. Therefore, I believe that when there are mines and weapons, there is a danger," he told reporters.

The President of Ukraine has emphasized that intelligence reports indicate Russia's plans to cause a nuclear incident at the nuclear power plant. In his opinion, Russia is doing everything it can to freeze the war in Ukraine.

"A separate fact is that the situation is very dangerous and acute now - we have received information from our intelligence that Russia is planning to cause a radiation release. Russia takes all the steps to prevent us from de-occupying our territories and to freeze the conflict. How can this be done? By blowing up the Kakhovka hydroelectric power plant, so that the whole world would say that this is a global environmental challenge and to freeze the conflict. This is their strategic idea. They need time to strengthen their army with people and weapons, so that when they are ready, they can come again and kill us, wipe us off the face of the earth. This has been their plan since the first days of the occupation," Zelenskyy said.

The President further added that Russia is aware that Ukraine refrains from targeting the power plant, making it difficult for them to artificially cause a nuclear incident. Therefore, Russia is actively seeking a suitable "format and moment" to create such an incident.

"This is very dangerous and we are talking about it just like we talked about the hydroelectric power plant explosion a year ago. We shared our data with our partners' intelligence agencies. The same thing is happening now at the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant," Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated during a conversation with journalists.

The President also addressed the recent mutiny initiated by Yevgeny Prigozhin, the leader of Wagner PMC, in Russia. According to Zelenskyy, this event highlights the lack of control that Russia has over events, even within their own country. He believes that this situation has implications for the overall situation in Zaporizhzhia. 

"We deal with unsound people who cannot fully control the process not only in the occupied territories, but also within their own country. The recent actions of Wagner mercenaries in Russia shows that the vertical hierarchy is weak and they do not control the domestic situation. This complex situation indicates a lack of understanding and control on their part. And this also has an impact on the situation in Zaporizhzhia," Zelenskyy said.

• 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. 

• 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 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.

• On Saturday, July 1, Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez arrived in Kyiv on an official visit.