Putin Accuses Ukraine of Attempting to Attack Kursk Nuclear Power Plant Amid Intensified Cross-Border Offensive

Russian President Vladimir Putin has accused Ukraine of attempting to strike the Kursk Nuclear Power Plant, located approximately 50 kilometers (30 miles) from the Ukrainian border, where Kyiv’s forces have been conducting a major cross-border offensive. The accusation, made during a televised government meeting on Thursday, adds a new dimension to the ongoing conflict between the two nations, now in its third year.

Putin’s claim comes at a time of heightened tension, with Ukrainian troops reportedly making significant advances in the western Kursk region since their offensive began on August 6. The Kursk Nuclear Power Plant, a critical infrastructure site, is located in a region that has become a focal point of the conflict as Ukrainian forces seek to gain ground in Russian territory. The offensive marks the most serious incursion by a foreign army into Russian territory since World War II.

During his address, Putin stated, “The enemy tried to strike the nuclear power plant at night. The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has been informed.” However, he did not provide any evidence or specific details regarding the alleged attack, raising questions about the veracity of the claim. The Kursk regional governor, Alexei Smirnov, later reassured that the nuclear facility was operating as usual, with no immediate damage reported.

The timing of Putin’s accusation is particularly noteworthy, as it follows an announcement by the IAEA that its chief would visit the Kursk facility next week. Russia has repeatedly raised alarms about potential threats to the nuclear plant since Ukrainian forces launched their offensive. The IAEA has urged both sides to exercise “maximum restraint” to avoid a nuclear accident, which could have devastating radiological consequences.

This is not the first time nuclear safety has been a contentious issue in the conflict. The war has seen both sides trading accusations of endangering nuclear facilities. Early in the conflict, Russian forces seized the abandoned Chernobyl power plant in northern Ukraine and later took control of the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant, Europe’s largest. Ukraine has accused Russia of “nuclear blackmail,” while Moscow has alleged that Ukrainian forces have attempted to strike these facilities with drones on multiple occasions.

In addition to the nuclear threat, the conflict has escalated on other fronts. On Thursday, Russian officials reported that a Ukrainian aerial attack sank a cargo ferry docked at the port of Kavkaz in southern Russia. The ferry, which was carrying fuel tanks, was docked in the Kerch Strait, a strategic location separating Russia from the annexed Crimean Peninsula. The Ukrainian response to this incident was cryptic but celebratory, with a communications adviser to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky posting a photo of a large fire at the port and commenting, “Beautiful.”

Ukraine’s ongoing offensive in the Kursk region has dramatically shifted the dynamics of the conflict, boosting the morale of Ukrainian forces and presenting a significant challenge to Russian defense capabilities. Despite this, Ukrainian troops continue to face stiff resistance in the eastern Donetsk region, where Russian forces claimed to have captured another village on Thursday.

The Ukrainian incursion has also led to significant displacement within Russia. Kursk governor Smirnov reported that 133,000 people have fled or been evacuated from border districts since the offensive began. In response to the heightened threat, Russian authorities have started installing concrete air-raid shelters in cities across the region, including Kurchatov, near the Kursk Nuclear Power Plant. Additionally, more than 110 schools close to the border will conduct classes remotely when the new academic year starts in September.

Amid these developments, Russia’s FSB security service announced a criminal case against several journalists, including CNN correspondent Nick Paton Walsh, for allegedly “illegally” crossing the border to report from the Kursk region. This move further underscores the increasingly tense and restrictive environment surrounding the conflict, as both sides continue to vie for control and influence.

As the conflict between Ukraine and Russia intensifies, the international community remains on edge, particularly with the potential for a nuclear incident looming over the ongoing hostilities. The coming days will likely see increased diplomatic efforts to prevent further escalation and to safeguard critical infrastructure from becoming collateral damage in this protracted conflict.