Russia says Ukraine attacked town home to large nuclear power plant

Moscow/London (dpa) - Several drones attacked Enerhodar, a town in the Russian-controlled part of Ukraine's southern Zaporizhzhya region, home to Europe's largest nuclear power plant, the chief of Russia's state nuclear corporation ROSATOM said.

Two Ukrainian drones were intercepted on Monday and four others carried out their attacks but caused no damage, ROSATOM boss Alexei Likhachev said on Tuesday, according to the Interfax agency.

Ukraine has yet to comment on the Russian claim.

Russia has occupied parts of the Zaporizhzhya region and its nuclear power plant since the early days of its all-out invasion more than 18 months ago.

Likhachev portrayed the drone attacks as a response to Sunday's elections in the part of Zaporizhzhya the Russian military controls.

International observers called the elections a sham and said they were neither fair nor free.

The results, in which the Kremlin party was presented as the overwhelming winner, are not recognized internationally.

Meanwhile in London, the British Ministry of Defence said on Tuesday, in its daily social media update, that Russia has reset its air defences around Moscow to protect the capital from Ukrainian drone attacks.

"Since early September 2023, Russian SA-22 air defence systems around the capital have been pictured positioned on elevated towers and ramps," the ministry said on X, formerly Twitter.

Russia had positioned the defence systems on the roofs of official buildings in Moscow after attacks on air bases in December.

This was supposed to enable the detection and defence of so-called kamikaze drones, but was seen as a move to reassure the public and demonstrate that authorities have the threat under control, the ministry said.

The ministry has been publishing daily information on the course of the war, which Russia started in February 2022. Moscow accuses London of disinformation.

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