Volodymy Zelensky warns of plot to blow up nuclear plant

Ukraine strikes a key bridge to Crimea with UK missiles, days after Russia warns their use would trigger retaliation against Kyiv itself.

The damage to the Chonhar bridge which links Crimea to the Kherson region in southern Ukraine REUTERS

President Volodymyr Zelensky has warned that Russia is plotting a “terrorist” attack on a nuclear power station in southern Ukraine that could send clouds of radiation over Europe.

The Zaporizhzhia plant, ­Europe’s largest, has been occupied by Russian troops for more than a year. “They have prepared everything for this,” Mr Zelensky said, citing unspecified military intelligence. “The world has been warned, so the world can and must act. Radiation knows no state borders. And who it will hit is determined only by the direction of the wind.”

On Tuesday, the head of Ukrainian military intelligence accused Russian troops of planting mines at the cooling pond used to ensure the safety of the six reactors. Kyrylo Budanov said Russia’s actions were “terrifying”, but did not provide evidence to support his claim.

There have been fears over the safety of the plant since the ­destruction this month of a dam in southern Ukraine that provided water for its cooling.

There are also concerns that intense fighting in the Zaporizhzhia region, which Russia claims as its own, could pose a risk to the Soviet-built power station. Russian forces are said to have ­enhanced their defences in and around the plant, including setting up firing positions on some of its buildings. Rafael Grossi, head of the International Atomic ­Energy Agency, was due in Russia on Friday night for talks, the ­Interfax news agency said. He visited Zaporizhzhia last week.

Mr Zelensky’s comments came as Ukraine struck a key bridge to Crimea with British missiles, days after Russia warned that their use would trigger retaliation against Kyiv itself.

The Chonhar Bridge, which links Crimea to Russian-held areas of the Kherson region, was damaged but not destroyed. Vladimir Saldo, a local official backed by the Kremlin, said it was likely British Storm Shadow missiles had been used to target the bridge. A source in the Ukrainian military intelligence later confirmed this to The Times. Storm Shadows, which Britain provided in May, have a top range of about 250km.

Known as the “gateway to Crimea”, the Chonhar Bridge is one of the few road links between the Black Sea peninsula, which Russia annexed in 2014, and mainland Ukraine. The bridge is also the shortest route between Crimea and Melitopol, a Russian-held city. On Tuesday, Russian ­Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu said any use of Western longer-range missiles to hit targets in Crimea would result in “immediate” attacks on government and military buildings in Kyiv.

In October, a truck bomb badly damaged the Kerch Bridge which links Crimea to Russia. Officials in Kyiv celebrated the ­attack but did not claim responsibility.

Separately, foreign donors have pledged €60bn ($98bn) of new financial support for Ukraine, the UK said, as an international conference in London aimed at funding the war-ravaged country’s reconstruction closed. “We had not envisaged this to be a pledging conference. Nevertheless, today at this conference, we can announce a combined €60bn in support to Ukraine,” said Foreign Secretary James Cleverly.

“This provides us with the ­medium-term predictable support that will unlock the macro-economic stability that Ukraine needs.”

He said efforts were focused on unlocking “the enormous potential of the private sector”.

THE TIMES