Kyiv struck a nuclear power plant
Russia has accused Ukraine on Sunday of launching drone attacks that sparked a fire in a nuclear power plant in its western Kursk region overnight, while Ukraine has celebrated 34 years since its independence.
Russian officials said that several electricity and energy facilities were targeted during night blows. The fire of the nuclear installation quickly died without reported injuries, according to the factory’s press service on Telegram. While the attack damaged a transformer, the radiation levels remained in the normal ranges.
The United Nations nuclear surveillance dog said he was aware of media reports that a transformer in factories had taken fire “due to military activity”, but had not received an independent confirmation. He said his director general, Rafael Mariano Grossi, said that “each nuclear installation must be protected at any time”.
Ukraine did not immediately comment on the alleged attack.
The firefighters also responded to a fire at the port of UST-Luga in the Russian region of Leningrad, which houses a large fuel export terminal. The regional governor said that around 10 Ukrainian drones had been slaughtered, the debris triggering the fire.
The Russian Defense Ministry said its air defenses intercept 95 Ukrainian drones on Russian territory during the night on Sunday.
Russia has drawn 72 drones and lures, as well as a cruise missile, in Ukraine overnight until Sunday, said the Air Force of Ukraine. Among these, 48 drones were slaughtered or blocked.
The incidents occurred while Ukraine marked the day of independence, commemorating its 1991 declaration of independence from the Soviet Union. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy presented remarks in a video address in kyiv’s independence place, stressing the determination of the nation.
“We build a Ukraine who will have enough strength and power to live in security and peace,” said Zelenskyy, calling for a “just peace”.
“What our future will be alone,” he said, in mind at the American top in Alaska earlier in August, which many feared left the Ukrainian and European interests.
“And the world knows it. And the world respects this. It respects Ukraine. It perceives Ukraine as an equal,” he said.
The American special envoy Keith Kellogg was present during the celebrations of the day of independence in kyiv, during which Zelenskyy awarded him the order of Ukrainian merit, of the 1st degree.
Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney arrived in Kyiv on Sunday morning for meetings with Zelenskyy.
“On this special day – Ukraine’s independence day – it is particularly important for us to feel the support of our friends. And Canada has always been by our side, “wrote Andriy Yermak, the chief of staff to Zelenskyy.
At a joint press conference with Zelenskyy, Carney said Canada will invest $ 2 billion ($ 1.5 billion) of new military assistance for Ukraine to stimulate its army and provide necessary urgent weapons.
Zelenskyy said the two leaders planned the presence of Canadian forces on the ground in Ukraine as part of a comfort force.
Norway announced a new important military aid on Sunday, promising about 7 billion Kroner ($ 695 million) for air defense systems. Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Store said that Norway and Germany jointly finance two patriotic systems, including missiles, Norway also helping to obtain a air defense radar.
Pope Leo XIV prayed for peace in Ukraine on Sunday while marked the day of independence of the country with a special appeal during his weekly midday blessing. He said that the faithful joined the Ukrainians “asking that the Lord gives peace to their martyred country”.
Leo also sent a telegram to President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to mark the day of independence, which the Ukrainian leader published on X as well as similar notes from other world leaders.
In the letter, Leo assured his prayers for all the Ukrainians who suffer and wrote: “I implore the Lord to move the hearts of people of good will, that the clamor of arms can be silent and give way to dialogue, opening the path of peace for the good of all.”
Meanwhile, the fighting continued on the front line in eastern Ukraine, where Russia said on Saturday that its forces had seized two villages in the Donetsk region.
The Russian Defense Ministry said on Sunday that 146 Russian soldiers had been dismissed from Ukraine, in exchange for the same number of Ukrainian soldiers. The ministry said the last exchange also included eight residents of the Kursk Russia region, which was the subject of a surprise Ukrainian foray into August 2024, which was returned to Russia after being detained in Ukraine.
Shortly after the Russian announcement, Zelenskyy said that “our people is coming home”. He said that those who were exchanged included members of the Ukrainian armed forces, the national guard, the state border and civil service. “Most of them have been in captivity since 2022,” he said.
Zelenskyy did not confirm the number of prisoners involved in the exchange.
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