Russia has planted suspected explosives on Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant roofs, says Zelenskiy : ukraine

[–] [email protected] 49 points 1 year ago (1 children)

"If detonated, they would not damage the reactors but would create an image of shelling from the Ukrainian side,” the statement on Telegram said. It said the Ukrainian army stood “ready to act under any circumstances”.

In his nightly video message, Zelenskiy said Russia was planning to “simulate an attack” on the plant. “But in any case, the world sees – and cannot fail to see – that the only source of danger to the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant is Russia. And no one else.”

Zelenskiy and the Ukrainian military provided no evidence for their assertions"

[–] [email protected] 29 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago) (1 children)

Oh good. Everyone is making it sound like they're going to make a radioactive cloud that triggers article 5. Nope, they're just making more shitty propaganda for the domestic Russian audience.

[–] [email protected] 13 points 1 year ago (2 children)

They've also rigged the reactors, we just don't know if they'll donate them as well or if that's just a backup plan. But given Russia's level of competence throughout the war who knows if they'll accidentally detonate it.

[–] [email protected] 5 points 1 year ago (1 children)

That’s the part where it gets interesting. Either they commit to blowing the plant or not. If they do, we’ll see Article V activated and the war will be over.

If they don’t, this would be the smartest move though as said very aptly in the beginning of the war by a Ukrainian soldier “thank god they’re so fucking stupid” so I tend to think it will happen just out of incompetence.

[–] [email protected] 4 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Thinking Article 5 is just a magic end the war button is naive as all hell

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 year ago (1 children)

yes and no... NATO would decimate Russian troops in Ukraine in a matter of days via long range missiles and air power. It's just a matter of what the Russian response would be.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago)

That's not how this works. They could certainly soften them, but if all it took was missiles and artillery Russia would own Ukraine by now

[–] damnYouSun 3 points 1 year ago

Do we actually know they've done that or you just saying they've done that?

Also given prevailing wind directions for the region, in all likelihood the only people they're going to irradiate are themselves.

[–] magnetosphere 22 points 1 year ago

If you forget all the death, destruction, terror, and shattered lives, you realize that Putin’s decisions have been so absurd that this might almost be funny.

[–] [email protected] 7 points 1 year ago

Considering russia's prior actions committing ecocide, it is highly likely. I wouldn't trust a monitor who doesn't have unfettered access to the facility. I think it's best to assume the worst of russia in this case.

[–] [email protected] -3 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago)

Budanov, Head of Ukrainian Intelligence, now reverses his stance and claims that the threat of “artificial catastrophe” at the ZNPP is “quietly decreasing”.

In other words, he called off the attack.

What changed?

https://en.interfax.com.ua/news/general/921266-amp.html

[+] [email protected] -7 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago) (1 children)

The International Atomic Energy Agency (UN nuclear watchdog) has been monitoring the ZNPP for months, at the request of Russia.

Today, they report there is no evidence of planted explosives at the ZNPP.

https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/iaea-has-seen-no-sign-explosives-zaporizhzhia-yet-more-access-needed-2023-07-05/

[–] [email protected] 11 points 1 year ago

Kind of difficult for the IAEE to see anything, if they don't have proper access. Quote:

" (...) but they need more access to be sure, the agency said on Wednesday."

[+] [email protected] -15 points 1 year ago (3 children)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Eq4643bsH8w

[–] MartianInAHumansBody 1 points 1 year ago

Didn't watch the whole video, but did he ever suggest Russia should just end the war and gtfo of Ukraine? Or is his take just that it's costing too much?

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 year ago

Can we call for an end to Max Blumenthal?

[+] [email protected] -64 points 1 year ago (7 children)

Russia has warned the UN for almost a year that Ukraine have plans to use the Zaporizhzhia NPP as a "dirt nuclear bomb", in order to blame it on Russia and justify NATO military intervention.

[–] [email protected] 27 points 1 year ago (2 children)

How do you think Ukraine are going make NATO believe that russia blew the plant?

It's currently occupied by russia, it's in annexed territory, they can't just walk in plant a few explosives. I expect folk would notice if Ukraine threw some missiles at it.

So how?

[–] [email protected] 13 points 1 year ago

Also consider that when Russia took control of the plant they did so by bombing the fuck out of it. I remember watching the livestream as explosions rocked the plant.

[–] [email protected] 6 points 1 year ago

It is not for the west to believe, it is for their home audience. If a dirty bomb made out of zaporizia goes off nato countries will get involved to help.clean up and control the plant and assist humanitarian efforts. Russia gov then still gets to play victim to its domestic audience blaming it all on other side. And some may be patriotic and want to believe and others will have to engage in doublethink and 'have' to believe it or be re-educated.

[–] [email protected] 26 points 1 year ago

Russia has lost all its credibility and what they say means nothing because they’re lying. So, fuck this statement and fuck Russia.

[–] [email protected] 14 points 1 year ago

Few people believe what Russia says anymore. They have been caught lying too many times, starting with the lie that their troops were just doing military training exercises close to the border and had no plans to invade Ukraine. In fact I remember them accusing the west of "acting like a bunch of hysterical women" over their claims Russia would invade. Then the next day, guess what? They invaded.

[–] ALERT 13 points 1 year ago

Oh, my first Lemmy user ban. Nice.

[–] [email protected] 13 points 1 year ago (1 children)

dumb cunt

[–] [email protected] -1 points 1 year ago

Fucking ledge response.

[–] gravitas_deficiency 8 points 1 year ago

Get the fuck out of here with that idiocy

[–] [email protected] -4 points 1 year ago (2 children)

They were right about the dam. They'd been warning about that one for a while too.

[–] gravitas_deficiency 3 points 1 year ago

If by “they” you mean “Ukraine”, then yes.

If you’re pushing the Russian narrative that Ukraine blew up the dam, thus delaying their own offensive efforts for weeks due to flooding… pull your head out of your ass.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 year ago

What did you get banned for?