Russian official visits Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant

Sergey Kiriyenko, deputy chief of staff of Putin's administration, visited the Russian-occupied site of the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant on July 6, the plant's press service announced on Telegram.

Yevgeny Balitsky, governor of Zaporizhzhia's occupied territory, joined Kiriyenko on his visit to the plant. The two officials also visited facilities in the city of Enerhodar.

According to the plant's press service, which serves as a mouthpiece for occupying Russian forces, the officials were there to verify that operations at the plant are proceeding normally and reported no safety violations. The men also posed for photos at the site.

The visit takes place amid heightened tensions at the plant, with Ukrainian armed forces reporting the possibility of an imminent Russian terrorist attack and evidence of explosives placed on the rooftops of some of the plant's power units.  

While the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has not found evidence of explosives during  inspections, the agency was not granted full access to the occupied plant's facilities.

Kiriyenko's visit occurred amid Moscow's propaganda claims that the Ukrainian military plans to somehow strike the plant, and one month after Russian forces blew up the dam at the Kakhovka Hydroelectric Power Plant.

The Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant remains under full control of the Russian military.

On the edge of disaster: What could really happen if Russia destroys Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant?

In late June, 16 months into the full-scale Russian invasion, President Volodymyr Zelensky alerted his nation of an unprecedented threat. Russia, the president said, had rigged the occupied Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant with explosives, and was ready to set off the charges and cause radiation to…

The Kyiv IndependentFrancis Farrell