In a video posted on Twitter on June 22 with an English caption, President Zelensky said he had received reports from Ukrainian intelligence and security forces that Russia was considering a scenario of a “terrorist attack” at the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant, with a radioactive leak. “They have prepared everything for this,” Zelensky said, warning that radiation could spread anywhere depending on the wind.
Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant
The Zaporizhzhia plant is located in the Zaporizhzhia region and is currently controlled by Russia. Russia and Ukraine have repeatedly accused each other of military actions that threaten the safety of the plant.
The Ukrainian leader said he had shared information with all parties such as Europe, the US, China, Brazil, India, the Arab world, Africa, and international organizations.
Quick view: What hot developments happened in the Russian military campaign in Ukraine on day 483?
In response, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov called Mr Zelensky's statement a lie and said inspectors from the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) had recently visited the power plant and appreciated everything, according to AFP.
“Another lie. There were only contacts with the IAEA at the facility, a very high assessment from the IAEA. They saw everything they wanted to see,” Mr. Peskov said.
Ukraine destroys bridge connecting Kherson and Crimea
The Russian-appointed governor of Kherson province, Vladimir Saldo, said on June 22 that Ukraine had attacked several bridges connecting Kherson province and the Crimean peninsula overnight, according to RT. One of them was the Chonhar bridge.
A bridge in Kherson was destroyed.
SPUTNIK SCREENSHOT
He said the attack caused no casualties but damaged infrastructure. Initial data suggests Ukraine used British-supplied Storm Shadow long-range cruise missiles.
Ukrainian President Says Counteroffensive Progress Slower Than Expected, Not 'Hollywood Movie'
Earlier, Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu warned of immediate retaliation targeting Ukrainian decision-making centers if Western missiles were used to attack areas "outside the special military operation zone" such as Crimea.
The attacked bridges are the few remaining land links to Crimea. Alternative routes would take hours longer to travel.
CNN quoted a representative of the Russian Investigative Committee as saying that four missiles were launched at the Chonhar bridge and one hit its target. A fragment showed that the missile was manufactured in France. The Storm Shadow missiles that Britain provided to Ukraine were jointly developed by Britain and France.
Image of a destroyed bridge in Kherson
ANH3 RT SCREENSHOT
Asked to comment on the attack, Ukrainian defense intelligence official Andrii Yusov said: "The work is ongoing and will continue - the work of the security and defense forces, the resistance movement, the local population, who are waiting for the return of legitimate Ukrainian authorities to those territories."
Yuriy Sobolevsky, an official from the Ukrainian government in Kherson, said the attack had hit Russian military logistics and had a psychological impact on Moscow. "There is no place in Kherson where they can feel safe," Sobolevsky said.
Russia accuses Ukraine of firing missiles at bridge leading to Crimea
Ukraine is attacking Russian supply lines in an attempt to break the defenses in the south, where the counteroffensive is underway. Ukraine claims to have retaken eight villages but admits the offensive is slow. In an update on the morning of June 22, the Ukrainian military said it had achieved “partial success” in the southeast and east.
Soldiers are consolidating positions they have gained after advancing towards the villages of Rivnopil and Staromayorske. Ukrainian General Staff spokesman Andriy Kovaliov described the fiercest fighting as taking place in the east, where Ukraine is trying to stop Russian attacks.
Ukrainian servicemen fire mortar shells near the village of Storozheve in Donetsk region on June 21.
On the other hand, Ukrainian officials announced that Russia launched many ballistic and cruise missiles and unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) at targets in Ukraine in the early morning of June 22. The Ukrainian Air Force announced that it shot down 3/4 UAVs but said that Russia also launched 3 Kinzhal hypersonic missiles and 3 cruise missiles. Russia has not commented on the above information.
President Putin: Ukraine knows it has no chance against Russia
Russia says Ukraine toned down after losses
Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu said on June 22 that Ukrainian forces were reducing their activities and were "regrouping" after attacks over the past 16 days that had caused huge losses, according to AFP.
He said that Western military aid to Ukraine had no major impact on the outcome of the war. "We now understand that the amount of Western weapons that have been delivered and are being delivered in 2023 does not have a major impact on the course of the military campaign. We do not see a threat, especially since we are actively forming reserves," Shoigu said at a meeting of the Federal Security Council.
Also at the meeting, President Vladimir Putin said that Ukrainian forces have offensive potential and many strategic reserve units have not been deployed. "I suggest that this fact be taken into account," the leader said.
Ukraine did not immediately comment on the statements.
Russian navy chief says 'need to speed up' after Putin's announcement
In a related comment, Russian Navy Commander Admiral Nikolay Yevmenov has just announced that Russia needs to strengthen its naval forces "right now", amid the Black Sea Fleet's participation in Russia's military campaign in Ukraine.
99.9% Russia withdraws from grain deal
Reuters on June 22 quoted Ambassador Olha Trofimtseva of the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry as saying that there is a 99.9% chance that Russia will withdraw from the grain export agreement through the Black Sea in July.
The United Nations and Türkiye brokered a deal last July to help Ukraine export grain through three Black Sea ports. Russia has threatened to pull out of the deal after July 18 if restrictions on its grain and fertilizer exports are not lifted.
The US still spends billions of dollars buying uranium from Russia.
Russia has called for the resumption of ammonia supplies via pipelines running through Ukraine to the southern Ukrainian port city of Odessa before exporting. However, the fertilizer has not yet been exported.
Ms Trofimtseva said Russian ammonia producer Uralchem had found an alternative route and no longer needed the route via Odessa, thus predicting Moscow would abandon the deal.
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