Ukraine warns of ‘nuclear terrorism’ after strike near plant
A Russian missile blasted a crater close to a nuclear power plant in southern Ukraine on Monday, damaging nearby industrial equipment but not hitting its three reactors. Ukrainian authorities denounced the move as an act of “nuclear terrorism.”
The missile struck within 300 meters (328 yards) of the reactors at the South Ukraine Nuclear Power Plant near the city of Yuzhnoukrainsk in Mykolaiv province, leaving a hole 2 meters (6 1/2 feet) deep and 4 meters (13 feet) wide, according to Ukrainian nuclear operator Energoatom, Associated Press reported.
The reactors were operating normally and no employees were injured, it said. But the proximity of the strike renewed fears that Russia’s nearly 7-month-long war in Ukraine might produce a radiation disaster.
This nuclear power station is Ukraine’s second-largest after the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant, which has repeatedly come under fire.
Following recent battlefield setbacks, Russian President Vladimir Putin threatened last week to step up Russian attacks on Ukrainian infrastructure. Throughout the war, Russia has targeted Ukraine’s electricity generation and transmission equipment, causing blackouts and endangering the safety systems of the country’s nuclear power plants.
The industrial complex that includes the South Ukraine plant sits along the Southern Bug River about 300 kilometers (190 miles) south of the capital, Kyiv. The attack caused the temporary shutdown of a nearby hydroelectric power plant and shattered more than 100 windows at the complex, Ukrainian authorities said. The U.N.’s International Atomic Energy Agency said three power lines were knocked offline but later reconnected.
Ukraine’s Defense Ministry released a black-and-white video showing two large fireballs erupting one after the other in the dark, followed by incandescent showers of sparks, at 19 minutes after midnight. The ministry and Energoatom called the strike “nuclear terrorism.”
The Russian Defense Ministry did not immediately comment on the attack, according to Associated Press.
Russian forces have occupied the Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant, Europe’s largest, since early after the invasion. Shelling has cut off the plant’s transmission lines, forcing operators to shut down its six reactors to avoid a radiation disaster. Russia and Ukraine have traded blame for the strikes.
The IAEA, which has stationed monitors at the Zaporizhzhia plant, said a main transmission line was reconnected Friday, providing the electricity it needs to cool its reactors.
But the mayor of Enerhodar, where the Zaporizhzhia plant is located, reported more Russian shelling Monday in the city’s industrial zone.
While warning Friday of a possible ramp-up of strikes, Putin claimed his forces had so far acted with restraint but warned “if the situation develops this way, our response will be more serious.”
“Just recently, the Russian armed forces have delivered a couple of impactful strikes,” he said. ”Let’s consider those as warning strikes.”
The latest Russian shelling killed at least eight civilians and wounded 22, Ukraine’s presidential office said Monday. The governor of the northeastern Kharkiv region, now largely back in Ukrainian hands, said Russian shelling killed four medical workers trying to evacuate patients from a psychiatric hospital and wounded two patients.
The mayor of the Russian-occupied eastern city of Donetsk, meanwhile, said Ukrainian shelling had killed 13 civilians and wounded eight there, Associated Press reported.
Patricia Lewis, the international security research director at the Chatham House think-tank in London, said attacks at the Zaporizhzhia plant and Monday’s strike on the South Ukraine plant indicated that the Russian military was attempting to knock Ukrainian nuclear plants offline before winter.
Chhepri Lopun appointed Nepal chief of Dalai Lama
The Central Tibet Administration (CTA) has appointed a new representative for Nepal to oversee Tibetan affairs. The headquarters of exiled Tibetan Community is in Dharmashala of Himanchal Pradesh, India. Religious leader Dalai Lama has been living in the same place. As the Nepal representative of Dalai Lama, the CTA has appointed Chhepri Lopun the Nepal chief. He has assumed the office from Monday itself. Lama took the charge as the head of Tibetan Refugee Welfare Office (Garden Khansar) in Lazimpat. The CTA appointed Lopun as the new representative after the tenure of Dalai Lama’s Nepal representative Chultrim Gyasto ended recently.
Real Madrid beat Atletico to continue 100% start
Real Madrid beat Atletico Madrid in a lively derby to make it six wins from six at the start of their La Liga title defence, BBC reported.
Rodrygo gave Real the opener with a half-volley from Aurelien Tchouameni's audacious scooped ball over the top.
Mario Hermoso briefly gave Atletico hope with a goal but then all but removed it with a late red card.
The substitute scored with his shoulder with seven minutes to go after Thibaut Courtois had missed a corner from Antoine Griezmann, making his first start of the season for Atletico.
But Hermoso was shown a yellow card for pushing Dani Carvajal and two minutes later picked up a second for shoving Dani Ceballos as they waited for a Griezmann corner.
However, the fixture was marred by what appeared to be racist chants aimed at Real's Brazilian forward Vinicius outside the stadium beforehand, which followed criticism of his dancing goal celebrations and a debate over whether that criticism was racist.
Some fans also reportedly threw objects at Vinicius after a Real goal and aimed further songs at him in the closing stages, according to BBC.
Carlo Ancelotti's Real have won all six games, putting them two points clear of Barcelona at the top. Atletico are seventh.
Real last won their opening six games in 1987-88.
Foreign Secretary Paudel leaving for New York today to take part in 77th Session of UNGA
Foreign Secretary Bharat Raj Paudyal is leaving for New York today leading the Nepali delegation to the 77th Session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) being held at the UN Headquarters in New York.
While in New York, Foreign Secretary Paudyal will address the general debate of the 77th UNGA under the theme of “A watershed moment: transformative solutions to interlocking challenges,” read a statement issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
The Foreign Secretary will participate in the high-leve lmeetings on the sidelines of the UNGA and hold bilateral meetings with the high officials of the United Nations.
