Ukraine has banned independence day celebrations as Russia launched rockets at locations that were near the continent’s largest nuclear plant.
Russia launched rockets at cities in southern Ukraine, to the west of the continent’s largest nuclear power plant early on Monday, 22 August. As a result, Kyiv, Ukraine’s capital, has banned celebrations of the country’s independence day out of concern for the citizens. The day commemorates Ukraine’s independence from Soviet authority.
The Zaporizhzhia nuclear reactor facility, which is close to artillery and rocket fire on the Russian-occupied south bank of the Dnipro River, has received calls for demilitarisation. Both Russia and Ukraine have been accused of the frequent shelling, some of which grazed the plant. It was largely in Ukrainian control, but soon after Russian soldiers invaded Ukraine in February, they took control of it.
Regional governor Valentyn Reznichenko reported on Telegram on Monday that at least four people were hurt by Russian rocket salvos launched overnight into Nikopol, across the Dnipro from Russian-occupied Enerhodar. This is where the Zaporizhzhia plant is located.
The safety and security of Ukraine’s nuclear sites was emphasised in a telephonic discussion on Sunday between US President Joe Biden, British Prime Minister Boris Johnson, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, and French President Emmanuel Macron. Along with reiterating their “steadfast committment” to defend Ukraine in the face of Russia’s invasion, they praised recent discussions on enabling a mission by the UN nuclear watchdog agency to Zaporizhzhia.
Wednesday is Ukraine’s 31st Independence Day, celebrations are prohibited
President Volodymyr Zelensky of Ukraine issued a warning about the risk of new serious assaults before Wednesday’s 31st anniversary of Ukraine’s independence from the Russian-dominated Soviet government.
Large public events, protests, and other commemoration gatherings have reportedly been banned in the capital city from Monday through Thursday due to the possibility of rocket attacks, according to a statement released by the Kyiv military administration and signed by its head Mykola Zhyrnov.
Zelensky has warned that Moscow might try something “particularly” in the days leading up to Wednesday. This day would be exactly six months since Russia invaded Ukrainian territory. The President also said that he had spoken to the French President about “all the threats”. He has also spoken with other world leaders like his Turkish counterpart, Tayyip Erdogan, and the U.N Secretary-General Antonio Guterres.
He said, “All of Ukraine’s partners have been notified of what the terrorist state can prepare for this week.”
Mykolaiv has come under attack by Russian soldiers, Russian denies deliberately killing civilians
The city of Mykolaiv serves as a significant target in the South and has since come under attack by the Russian soldiers. Additionally, Russia was working to move toward Pisky, Bakhmut, and Kramatorsk, three significant towns in the Donetsk province that together with the neighboring Luhansk, make up the eastern Donbas region.
Russia denies intentionally targeting civilians. According to Russian police who are looking into the incident, the daughter of Alexander Dugin, an ultra-nationalist Russian ideologue who supports Russia absorbing Ukraine, was killed in a suspected car bomb attack outside of Moscow.