Fighting in Kursk Risks Nuclear Catastrophe, UN Says
Summary from the AllSides News Team
Warnings from the United Nations nuclear watchdog Thursday called on military activity in the vicinity of a Russian nuclear power plant to stop.
The Details: The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) was informed of a downed military drone near the spent fuel storage facility of the Kursk Nuclear Power Plant. The information relayed from the Russian Federation included reports from Russian President Vladimir Putin that Ukrainian forces attempted to attack the facility. IAEA Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi will be visiting the plant next week to assess.
For Context: Kursk is located along the northern border of Ukraine and has been the focus of Ukrainian military advances in recent weeks, with over 1,250 square kilometers and 92 settlements reportedly under Ukrainian control. With Ukrainian forces utilizing weapons from Western nations, including the United States, questions arise over how Russia will respond, and how long Ukraine’s incursion can go before being deemed a full-scale invasion.
How The Media Covered It: Media across the political spectrum highlighted IAEA concerns, while also adding context. Al Jazeera (Lean Left bias) highlighted prior IAEA involvement, with Russian troops controlling Ukraine’s Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant, and seizing the abandoned Chernobyl plant. The Epoch Times (Lean Right bias) mentioned a possible “messaging campaign” being utilized by Russia to promote military advancement in Eastern Ukraine over protecting the Kursk region.
Featured Coverage of this Story
From the Left
Putin says Ukrainian forces tried to strike Kursk nuclear plantRussian President Vladimir Putin says Ukrainian forces have tried to attack the Kursk Nuclear Power Station in an overnight raid.
The Russian leader did not offer evidence for the claim but said on Thursday that Moscow has informed the United Nations nuclear watchdog, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), about the incident.
From the Right
Putin Alleges Ukraine Tried to Strike Russia’s Kursk Nuclear Power PlantRussian President Vladimir Putin on Aug. 22 accused Ukraine of attempting to attack a nuclear plant in the Russian region of Kursk, as Kyiv continues its cross-border incursion in the country.
Putin said during a televised government meeting that Ukraine “tried to strike the nuclear power plant at night ... the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has been informed.”
From the Center
UN warns of Chernobyl-like disaster if fighting in Kursk doesn’t stopThe United Nations nuclear watchdog warned against continued fighting between Ukrainian and Russian forces near a Kursk nuclear plant on Thursday, Aug. 22. The International Atomic Energy Agency fears that artillery within range of the facility could lead to a nuclear disaster.
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