Ukraine accuses Russia of using nuclear plant as shield

It says Moscow launches attacks from facility, knowing it is risky for Ukrainians to fight back

Ukraine yesterday accused Russia of exploiting its position in a nuclear power plant it had seized to target a nearby town in a rocket attack that killed at least 13 people and left many others seriously wounded.

The town that Ukraine says Russia targeted – Marhanets – is one that Russia has alleged Ukrainian forces have used in the past to shell Russian forces holed up at the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant, which they took over in March.

“It was a terrible night,” regional governor Valentin Reznichenko wrote on Telegram, urging residents to shelter when they hear air raid sirens.

“I am asking and begging you... Don’t let the Russians kill you,” he wrote, adding that Russia had fired a total of 80 rockets at the area.

Regional council head Mykola Lukashuk said the strikes had hit a local power line, leaving thousands of people without electricity.

The rocket attacks came as Britain, which is helping Ukraine with weapons, intelligence and training, said yesterday that it believed Russia had “almost certainly” established a major new ground force to support its war.