Ukraine war: Volodymyr Zelenskyy warns ‘serious threat’ remains at Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant – as Russia launches drone attack on Kyiv
Volodymyr Zelenskyy has warned that the situation at the Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant in southern Ukraine remains a “serious threat”.
Citing Ukrainian intelligence, the country’s president said Russia was “technically ready” to provoke a localised explosion at the facility.
It comes as Russia launched an overnight drone attack on Kyiv after a 12-day break, a Ukrainian military official said on Sunday, with air defence systems preliminarily destroying all targets on their approach.
“Another enemy attack on Kyiv,” Serhiy Popko, a colonel general who heads Kyiv’s military administration, said in a Telegram post.
“At this moment, there is no information about possible casualties or damage.”
Throughout the war nuclear experts have repeatedly raised concerns about the safety of the Zaporizhzhia plant, which Russia seized control of last March, due to shelling near and around it.
Ukrainian military intelligence previously said Moscow’s troops had mined Europe’s largest nuclear plant and claimed on Friday that the number of Russian personnel is gradually being reduced.
Mr Zelenskyy said: “There is a serious threat because Russia is technically ready to provoke a local explosion at the station, which could lead to a (radiation) release”, in a news conference in Kyiv with Spain’s prime minister.
He gave no further details and so far, Moscow has not commented on reports of the apparent drawdown at the plant.
Ukraine’s GUR claimed that Russian forces are “gradually leaving the territory of the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant”.
Among the first reported to have left were three staff from Russian state nuclear firm Rosatom who were “in charge of the Russians’ activities”.
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player
‘A nuclear catastrophe waiting to happen’
Special Russian military units guard the facility and a unit of Rosatom runs the plant.
Both sides have accused each other of shelling near the plant, amid ongoing fears about a potential disaster at the facility, which is just 500km from the site of the world’s worst nuclear accident, the 1986 Chernobyl disaster.
On Friday, the UN’s nuclear watchdog, International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), said its experts have “so far found no visible indications of mines or other explosives currently planted” at the plant.
Read more:
Ukrainian teenager taken by Russians considered suicide after solitary confinement
Ukraine charges Russian politician with war crimes over alleged deportation of orphans
It said its aware of reports that mines and other explosives have been placed in and around the plant – including mines near the cooling pond.
However, director general Rafael Mariano Grossi added that experts still need additional access to carry out further such checks at the site.
Ukrainian intelligence alleges Moscow approved a plan to blow up plant – would Moscow risk it?
There have been widespread reports that the Russians were mining several key areas inside the largest nuclear power plant in Europe.
The concern here is that Russia has a track record of leaving a trail of devastation in its wake, as they did with the destruction of the Kakhovka Dam.
But, it looks very unlikely that Russia would look to destroy the nuclear plant itself. This would have long-term consequences.
Most analysts believe that Vladimir Putin retains long-term imperialist ambitions, and although progress of his military forces in Ukraine has been limited so far, he will have his eye on the long game.
Destroying the nuclear plant would devastate a huge area for generations to come and would not be a desirable outcome.
More likely is that the Russians could be planning to destroy or damage large areas of vital infrastructure at the nuclear plant to create a major distraction for the oncoming Ukrainian forces.
This would raise the spectre of nuclear disaster, and perhaps buy Russian forces time.
Sky News previously spoke to two workers at the plant who warned the consequences of a catastrophe could cause devastation across much of Europe, Russia and the Mediterranean.
The IAEA said its experts were able to inspect parts of the plant’s cooling system, including some sections of the perimeter of the large cooling pond and the isolation gate of the discharge channel of the nearby Zaporizhzhya Thermal Power Plant (ZTPP).
It said both this channel and the cooling pond hold reserves of water that remain available for use by the nuclear plant despite the recent destruction of the downstream Kakhovka Dam.
The biggest nuclear risk at the plant is from overheating nuclear fuel, which could happen if the power that drives the cooling systems is cut or if there is not enough water to supply the cooling systems. Shelling has repeatedly cut power lines.
The Pope has urged Donald Trump not to try to oust Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro using military force.
Leo, the first American pontiff, said it would be better to attempt dialogue or impose economic pressure on Venezuela if Washington wants to pursue change there.
The Trump administration has been weighing options to combat what it has portrayed as Mr Maduro’s role in supplying illegal drugs that have killed Americans.
The socialist Venezuelan president has denied having any links to the illegal drug trade.
Pope Leo XIV aboard a flight to Rome. Pic: Reuters
Asked during a news conference about President Trump’s threats to remove Mr Maduro by force, the Pope said: “It is better to search for ways of dialogue, or perhaps pressure, including economic pressure.”
He added that Washington should search for other ways to achieve change “if that is what they want to do in the United States”.
The Pope was speaking as he flew home from a visit to Turkey and Lebanon – his first overseas trip in the role.
Mr Maduro has said Venezuelans are ready to defend their country as the US considers a land attack.
Venezuela’s President Nicolas Maduro in Caracas. Pic: Reuters
The president held a rally in Caracas amid heightened tensions with Mr Trump’s administration, which has been targeting what it says are boats carrying drug smugglers.
Mr Trump met his national security team on Monday evening, having warned last week that land strikes would start “very soon”.
It’s not been confirmed what was discussed at the meeting, but White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt told reporters: “There’s many options at the president’s disposal that are on the table – and I’ll let him speak on those.”
US forces have carried out at least 21 strikes on boats it claims were carrying narcotics to its shores over the last few months.
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player
‘The president has a right to take them out’
Mr Maduro – widely considered a dictator by the West – said on Monday that Venezuelans are ready “to defend [the country] and lead it to the path of peace”.
“We have lived through 22 weeks of aggression that can only be described as psychological terrorism,” he said.
Venezuela has said the boat attacks, which have killed more than 80 people, amount to murder – and that Mr Trump’s true motivation is to oust Mr Maduro and access its oil.
This breaking news story is being updated and more details will be published shortly.
Please refresh the page for the latest version.
You can receive breaking news alerts on a smartphone or tablet via the Sky News app. You can also follow us on WhatsApp and subscribe to our YouTube channel to keep up with the latest news.
Nicolas Maduro has said Venezuelans are ready to defend their country as the US considers a land attack.
The president held a rally in Caracas amid heightened tensions with Donald Trump’s administration, which has been targeting what it says are boats carrying drug smugglers.
Mr Trump met his national security team on Monday evening, having warned last week that land strikes would start “very soon”.
An image of an alleged drug boat being targeted by the US military. Pic: Truth Social
It’s not been confirmed what was discussed at the meeting, but White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt told reporters: “There’s many options at the president’s disposal that are on the table – and I’ll let him speak on those.”
US forces have carried out at least 21 strikes on boats it claims were carrying narcotics to its shores over the last few months, and the White House has accused Mr Maduro of being involved in the drugs trade – a claim he denies.
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player
‘The president has a right to take them out’
‘Psychological terrorism’
Mr Maduro – widely considered a dictator by the West – said on Monday that Venezuelans are ready “to defend [the country] and lead it to the path of peace”.
“We have lived through 22 weeks of aggression that can only be described as psychological terrorism,” he said.
Venezuela has said the boat attacks, which have killed more than 80 people, amount to murder – and that Mr Trump’s true motivation is to oust Mr Maduro and access its oil.
Concerns have been raised over the legality of the US attacks, which the Pentagon has sought to justify by designating the gangs as foreign terror organisations.
Maduro was championed by supporters as he spoke on Monday. Pics: Reuters
Controversy over US strikes
Tensions remain high over America’s large deployment in the Caribbean Sea and eastern Pacific, which includes its flagship aircraft carrier and thousands of troops.
The US has released videos of boats being blown up but has not provided evidence – such as photos of drugs – to support the smuggling claims.
Controversy also surrounds the first incident, on 2 September, in which 11 people were killed – with a follow-up strike targeting the boat after the first attack left two survivors in the water.
US media reported defence secretary Pete Hegseth gave an order that everyone on board should be killed.
However, there are concerns about the legality of the second strike if the survivors posed no threat.
Mr Hegseth dismissed the reporting as “fake news” and insisted all actions in the region are compliant with US and international law.
“Every trafficker we kill is affiliated with a Designated Terrorist Organization,” he said on X.
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player
Is US about to go to war with Venezuela?
Mr Trump said on Sunday he would not have wanted a second strike and that Mr Hegseth had denied giving such an order.
Ms Leavitt confirmed on Monday that the boat had been hit by a second strike – but denied Mr Hegseth gave the order for the follow-up.
Instead, she said he had authorised US navy vice admiral Frank Bradley to attack, and the admiral acted “well within his authority and the law, directing the engagement to ensure the boat was destroyed and the threat to the US was eliminated”.
Read more from Sky News:
Hong Kong fire: 13 arrested as death toll hits 151
More than 1,100 confirmed dead in Asia floods
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player
Trump: Maduro call neither ‘went well or badly’
As the US weighs its next steps, Mr Trump said on Sunday he had spoken to Mr Maduro by phone and that the conversation went neither “well or badly”.
In recent days, he also stated that Venezuela’s airspace should be considered closed – with the South American nation calling it a “colonial threat” and “illegal, and unjustified aggression”.
Imran Khan is suffering from isolation, his sister said, after weeks of not being able to see his family.
Khan has been in jail since his August 2023 arrest after he was handed a three-year jail term for illegally selling state gifts.
Uzma Khanum was the only family member permitted to meet him in Adiala jail, Rawalpindi, where supporters of his Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party had gathered to protest against conditions of the 73-year-old’s detention.
Supporters of jailed Imran Khan protest in Karachi over concerns about the former Parkistan prime minister’s health. Pic: Reuters
Ms Khanum said that Khan, a former cricketer, is facing isolation and psychological strain in prison following weeks in which his family said access had been blocked.
“He’s physically well,” said Ms Khanum, one of Khan’s three sisters. “But he’s kept inside all the time, and only goes out for a short while. There’s no contact with anybody.”
The meeting took place under strict supervision, said Ms Khanum, though she declined to provide further details.
Read more from Sky News:
More than 1,200 confirmed dead in Asia floods
El Chapo’s son pleads guilty to drug charges
PTI says routine prison visits have been blocked for weeks despite court orders, fuelling rumours about his condition and possible prison transfers.
Authorities deny any mistreatment, and say that Khan is receiving all entitlements available to prisoners.
Khan served as prime minister from 2018 to 2022.
He has claimed that the charges against him are politically motivated – and aimed at blocking his political career.
Khan’s wife, Bushra Bibi, is serving time in the same prison over corruption, but they are not allowed to see each other except when they appear in court, his supporters have said.
-
Sports2 years agoStory injured on diving stop, exits Red Sox game
-
Sports3 years ago‘Storybook stuff’: Inside the night Bryce Harper sent the Phillies to the World Series
-
Sports2 years agoGame 1 of WS least-watched in recorded history
-
Sports3 years agoButton battles heat exhaustion in NASCAR debut
-
Sports3 years agoMLB Rank 2023: Ranking baseball’s top 100 players
-
Sports4 years ago
Team Europe easily wins 4th straight Laver Cup
-
Environment3 years agoJapan and South Korea have a lot at stake in a free and open South China Sea
-
Environment1 year agoHere are the best electric bikes you can buy at every price level in October 2024