The United Nations nuclear watchdog has called for an end to the shelling near the Zaporizhzhia nuclear facility. The call by the International Atomic Energy Agency comes as both Russia and Ukraine have blamed each other for the attacks near the facility.
IAEA chief Rafael Grossi issued a statement Sunday calling for an end to the attacks near the Zaporizhzhia plant. This comes as IAEA experts have heard over a dozen blasts on the same day. The experts also said they could see explosions in their windows and later said they would assess the situation on Monday.
“The news from our team yesterday and this morning is extremely disturbing,” said Grossi. “Explosions occurred at the site of this major nuclear power plant, which is completely unacceptable. As I have said many times before, you are playing with fire!”
Grossi also told a French broadcaster that it was clear that the raids close to the facility were intended.
“The people who are doing this know where they are hitting. It is absolutely deliberate, targeted,” said Grossi. The IAEA said in a statement after its assessment that parts of the facility were damaged, but there was no “radiation release or loss of power.”
During his evening address on Sunday, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said there was a heavy onslaught of at least 400 Russian attacks that also hit eastern Ukraine, with heavy fighting on the ground in eastern Donetsk.
Russia has been intensifying its bombardments of Ukraine’s energy infrastructure following the significant losses it has incurred on the ground. Ukrainian forces were able to reclaim the Kherson region – the only major Ukrainian territory that Russia seized since its invasion back in February.
Also on Sunday, Ukrainian Deputy Prime Minister Iryna Vereshchuk said Kyiv has ordered an evacuation of residents in Kherson. Vereshchuk cited the damages caused by Russian strikes on the region’s infrastructure, which made life difficult for residents.
The news of the evacuation followed the strike by Russian missiles on an oil depot in Kherson, marking the first time a fuel storage facility was hit in the city.
Vereshchuk said that a number of residents have expressed an intention to move away from the newly reclaimed area as well as the area near Mykolaiv.


Trump Administration Halts Immigration, Green Card, and Citizenship Processing for 19 Countries
U.S.-Russia Talks Leave Ukraine Peace Efforts Uncertain
Michael Dell Pledges $6.25 Billion to Boost Children’s Investment Accounts Under Trump Initiative
Trump Claims He Will Void Biden Documents Signed with Autopen
China Urged to Prioritize Economy Over Territorial Ambitions, Says Taiwan’s President Lai
Drones Spotted Near Zelenskiy’s Flight Path in Ireland Trigger Security Alert
Cuba Reaffirms Anti-Drug Cooperation as Tensions Rise in the Caribbean
Hong Kong Faces Low Turnout in “Patriots-Only” Election Amid Public Grief After Deadly Fire
IMF Deputy Dan Katz Visits China as Key Economic Review Nears
Trump and Lula Discuss Trade, Sanctions, and Security in “Productive” Phone Call
Australia and Japan Strengthen Defence Cooperation Amid Rising Regional Tensions
Trump Administration Tightens H-1B Visa Vetting With New Focus on Free Speech and Censorship
Honduras Election Turmoil Intensifies as Nasralla Blames Trump for Shift in Results
Maduro Confirms “Respectful” Call With Trump, Signals Openness to Diplomatic Dialogue
New Orleans Immigration Crackdown Sparks Fear as Federal Arrests Intensify
Taiwan Opposition Criticizes Plan to Block Chinese App Rednote Over Security Concerns
Israel Receives Body of Deceased Hostage as Rafah Crossing Reopening Hinges on Final Returns 



