The Zaporizhia nuclear power plant in southern Ukraine is disconnected from the power grid after Russian bombing. Ukrainian operator Energoatom announced that the remaining power lines were hit and damaged. The nuclear power plant is powered only by diesel generators. There are reports of strong explosions in the Russian-occupied city of Melitopol. There were also attacks in Donbass and central Ukraine.
The Zaporizhia nuclear power plant is the largest in Europe. The supply of diesel to the generators is enough for 15 days, he said. The nuclear plant has long been occupied by Russian troops but is operated by Ukrainian workers. The plant site in the city of Enerhodar was hit repeatedly, for which the warring parties blame themselves. They accuse themselves of risking a nuclear catastrophe.
Explosions in Melitopol
The situation in Melitopol is unclear. Although representatives from both sides confirmed the explosions, reports differ. Russian air defense shot down Ukrainian missiles, a representative of the occupation administration wrote on Telegram. The expelled Ukrainian mayor of Melitopol, Ivan Fedorov, said a factory building with Russian staff inside was bombed. Russia uses Melitopol as the administrative center of the partially conquered region of Zaporizhia, which it declared annexed.
The Ukrainian General Staff also reported in its morning situation report on Russian attacks on the cities of Bakhmut and Avdiivka in Donbass. The destruction of a power supply facility was reported in the central Ukrainian city of Kryvyi Rih. A Russian drone hit there. Sumy and Kharkiv in the northeast were also attacked.
Fighting also continued in the Luhansk and Donetsk regions to the east. “The enemy is trying to hold the temporarily conquered areas,” the Ukrainian general staff said. “He is focusing his efforts on containing the actions of the defense forces in certain areas.”
Combat vehicles are missing
After huge losses, according to British intelligence, Russia apparently lacks modern combat vehicles. Russian soldiers are believed to be frustrated at having to use old infantry vehicles called “aluminum cans”, the UK Ministry of Defense’s daily briefing said on Thursday.
By mid-October, Russian units were losing more than 40 vehicles a day in the face of Ukrainian counterattacks, which the British say was the equipment of an entire battalion. Last week, Moscow purchased at least 100 additional tanks and infantry fighting vehicles from Belarusian stockpiles. Presumably, however, it is difficult for Russian units to obtain enough suitable replacements for the damaged material, which causes problems for the offensive. (apa)