Russia accuses Ukraine of attacking Kursk nuclear power plant; Modi’s message ahead of Ukraine visit

Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Thursday, August 22, that Ukraine had attempted to attack the Kursk nuclear power plant, located in the Kursk region near the border. This area was the site of an incursion by kyiv more than two weeks ago.

At a meeting in Moscow regarding the border regions of Belgorod, Bryansk and Kursk, Putin said: “The enemy tried to strike the (Kursk) nuclear power plant last night.” He noted that the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) had been informed and had agreed to send experts to assess the situation there.

Acting Kursk Governor Alexei Smirnov assured at the same meeting that the situation at the plant remained stable. Earlier, the Defense Ministry announced the interception of a Ukrainian drone during a night attack over the Kursk region. Ukrainian officials have not yet responded to these claims.

Throughout the two-and-a-half-year conflict, Ukraine and Russia have accused each other of threatening nuclear security. Russian forces first took control of the abandoned Chernobyl nuclear power plant and Europe’s largest nuclear facility, the Zaporizhia plant, at the start of their major military offensive.

Indian diaspora members expressed optimism over PM Modi’s visit to Ukraine

Russia continues to control the Zaporizhia site and is accused of “nuclear blackmail” by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. Moscow, however, claims that Ukrainian forces have attempted several drone strikes on the plant.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who visited Poland on Thursday, stressed that conflicts cannot be resolved through fighting. His visit to kyiv is the first by an Indian prime minister.

Modi is expected to advocate for a peaceful resolution to the ongoing conflict, which began with Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. The Indian government has avoided directly condemning Russia, preferring to favor dialogue between the two sides.

“India firmly believes that no problem can be resolved on a battlefield,” Modi said. He added that India supports “dialogue and diplomacy to restore peace and stability at the earliest possible” and condemned “the loss of innocent lives in any conflict.”