DISINFO: Ukraine admitted to the nuclear blackmail of Europe
SUMMARY
The head of Ukraine’s defence intelligence agency, Kyrylo Budanov, admitted three attempts to attack the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant. Ukraine once again showed that they are terrorists and the tasks set by the Main Intelligence Directorate are primarily of a terrorist nature. They are trying to seize the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant in order to blackmail not only Russia, but also Europe.
RESPONSE
Recurring pro-Kremlin disinformation narrative about false flag operations, not backed up with evidence, and aiming to exploit fears about a nuclear catastrophe as part of Russia’s nuclear blackmail campaign.
Russian media refer to an interview in October with the head of the Main Military Intelligence Directorate of the Ministry of Defence of Ukraine to the Ukrainian media NV, in which Kyrylo Budanov and his colleagues revealed details of some special military intelligence operations.
Budanov spoke about the attempts of the Ukrainian Armed Forces to de-occupy Ukrainian territories and strategic objects captured by the Russians, such as the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant. These attempts are not criminal. Ukraine is exercising its legitimate right to self-defence in accordance with Article 51 of the UN Charter.
In the interview, Kyrylo Budanov confirmed that the Ukrainian military landed three times on the left bank of the Dnipro River near the Russian-occupied town Energodar to create a bridgehead for the de-occupation of the town and the adjacent Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant.
The operations ended in failure, but thwarted Russia's plans to connect the Zaporizhzhia NPP to its energy system, said Kyrylo Budanov and an anonymous participant in the special operation. Intelligence representatives did not speak about Ukraine blackmailing Europe through attacks on Zaporizhzhia NPP.
Russia’s illegal actions at the Zaporizhzhia NPP were once again independently confirmed by 69 states during the 67th session of the IAEA General Conference at the end of September 2023. As a result of the conference, the participating countries adopted a resolution calling on Russia to immediately withdraw all military personnel from the Zaporizhzhia NPP and return the station to the full control of the competent authorities of Ukraine
In addition, in September 2023, the Director General of the IAEA presented a report on nuclear safety in Ukraine. IAEA's experts came to the conclusion that Ukraine adheres to international standards in the field of nuclear safety, while Russia ignores and violates them.
See similar disinformation cases claiming that the UK is supervising the preparation of a provocation at Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant by Kyiv and that Ukraine may blow the Zaporizhzhia nuclear site up to cover up the failure of the counter-offensive.