Russia says Ukraine attacked trucks supplying fuel to Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant

The head of Russia’s state nuclear energy corporation ⁠accused Ukraine on ⁠Sunday of attacking diesel fuel trucks, ⁠killing two Russian servicemen and deliberately jeopardising safety at the Russian-held Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant in Ukraine.

Alexei Likhachev said the attack took place on Friday and also resulted in injuries to other ‌Russian soldiers.

The Zaporizhzhia plant, Europe’s largest with six reactors, was seized by Russian forces in the early weeks of the Ukraine war that broke out in February 2022. Each side has regularly accused the other of actions that endanger safety at the plant and increase the risk ⁠of a nuclear accident.

Likhachev issued a statement saying Ukrainian forces had launched “a series ‌of combined strikes” on Friday on fuel trucks which deliver diesel to the station.

“The strikes hit very close to ‌the perimeter of the station’s site,” he said.

“Two servicemen were killed and ⁠a large ⁠number of Russian soldiers were injured, some seriously. They were all involved in supporting this purely civilian ‌mission.”