Concerns about the Russian Kursk nuclear power plant

It remains unclear what Ukraine is trying to achieve by advancing into the Russian region of Kursk. But President Zelenskyj already sees one result: his country is taking prisoners for future exchanges.

In view of the Ukrainian advance on the Russian region of Kursk, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) is warning of possible dangers to the nuclear power plant there. IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi called on both sides to adhere to the rules for nuclear safety in conflict zones. There are reports of “significant military activities” in the region, Grossi said in Vienna. “At this point, I would like to appeal to all sides to exercise maximum restraint in order to avoid a nuclear accident with potentially serious radiation consequences.”

The actual extent and exact goals of the Ukrainian advance across the border since Tuesday remain unclear. In response, the Russian army shelled a supermarket in the eastern Ukrainian city of Kostiantynivka on Friday, killing at least 14 people and injuring another 40. “This is conscious and targeted Russian terror,” said Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in his evening video address. “Another war crime for which the occupier will be held accountable.” Ukraine has been fending off a large-scale Russian invasion for almost two and a half years. During the night, the Russian Air Force bombed the Ukrainian region of Sumy with glide bombs.

Due to concerns about Ukrainian reconnaissance and sabotage troops, the Russian regions of Kursk, Bryansk and Belgorod have been declared anti-terrorist operation zones, the state news agency Tass reported. These are the three regions where Russian and Ukrainian forces face each other directly on the border. The security forces are being given additional powers to combat terrorism.

Because of the Kursk nuclear power plant, Grossi, as head of the Atomic Energy Agency, reminded Russia and Ukraine of the principles for the safety of nuclear facilities in crisis areas. And he recalled the additional rules that had been drawn up for the Russian-occupied Zaporizhia nuclear power plant in southern Ukraine “and which are also applicable in this case.” It does not matter where a nuclear power plant is located.

Although it is completely unclear whether the Ukrainian advance is aimed at the Kursk nuclear power plant, nervousness there is growing. Since Wednesday, the Russian National Guard has been strengthening protection of the nuclear facility in the town of Kurchatov, which is about 60 kilometers from the border. The furthest advances by Ukrainian troops, which were reported without confirmation, only reached about half as far into Russia. However, some of the workers who are building two new reactors there have been temporarily withdrawn from the plant, according to the construction company Atomstrojeksport.

The city of Kurchatov and the surrounding area lost power due to a Ukrainian drone strike. Acting governor of Kursk Alexander Smirnov announced this on Telegram. Russia also informed the IAEA that parts of Ukrainian missiles had been found on the site of the nuclear power plant. However, there had been no direct attack, according to a letter from the Russian representation to the international organizations in Vienna. The information on this discovery could not be independently verified.

The Ukrainian leadership did not comment further on the advance of its army with tanks and artillery on Russian territory. However, in his video message on Friday evening, Zelensky thanked the soldiers who had taken Russian prisoners. “This is extremely important, and in the past three days it has been particularly successful,” he said. Once the exchange fund is full, more Ukrainian prisoners can be released from Russia. Since the start of the advance on Tuesday, there have been several videos showing groups of Russian soldiers being captured. These included border guards at the Sudzha crossing.

There was still little reliable information about the military situation in this combat zone. A video was broadcast on the Ukrainian television station Hromadske showing Ukrainian soldiers at the Sudzha gas measuring station. An important Russian natural gas pipeline runs from there towards Ukraine and Central Europe. The Russian military blog Rybar said that the situation had stabilized since the previous days. “But it is too early to say that we have taken the initiative.”

In its evening report, the Ukrainian General Staff spoke of 70 battles along the front in the east and south of the country. Even if the exact number cannot be verified, it is lower than in comparison to the past few days. Fighting was particularly fierce on the Pokrovsk front in the eastern Ukrainian region of Donetsk.