Digital Desk: Volodymyr Zelensky, the president of the war-torn country of Ukraine, issued a warning to its people on Saturday ahead of Independence Day, urging them to exercise caution in the coming week in light of recent explosions in Crimea and a missile attack that injured 12 civilians close to a nuclear power plant. On August 24, Ukraine will celebrate its 31st Independence Day, despite the fact that it has been fighting a Russian invasion for almost six months.
In his evening speech
to the nation, Zelensky said, "We must all be aware that this week Russia
could try to do something really terrible, something particularly
vicious." Before the events on August 24, Ukraine must not allow Moscow to
"promote pessimism and terror," he urged.
According to a report
by the Kyiv Post, Ukrainian NGO the Center for Strategic Communications
(StratCom) issued a warning earlier this week that Russia was gathering
missiles and ammunition close to its borders with Ukraine. "It is clear
that Ukraine is at risk of being heavily shelled by S-300 missiles. It is
obvious that the Russians are getting ready to strike Ukraine on August 24
given the arrival of multiple trains [from Russia] before Aug. 20, according to
StratCom, which posted the statement on its website and Telegram channel.
StratCom stated
earlier this month that Russian trains carrying heavy weapons, including
missiles, were travelling toward the Ukrainian border and were due to arrive on
Saturday, only days before the traditional celebrations.
The "increasingly
regular" attacks near nuclear plants, such those at the Pivdennoukrainsk
(South Ukraine) nuclear plant and recent shelling close to the largest nuclear
plant in Europe, Zaporizhzhia, have rekindled concerns about a nuclear
disaster, according to Ukrainian officials.
Zelensky added,
"You can really feel Crimea in the air this year, that the occupation
there is only temporary and that Ukraine is coming back," in reference to
the string of assaults on the region, which Russia annexed in 2014.
As a result of ongoing
Russian bombardment, tensions are also high in Kharkiv, the second-largest city
in Ukraine. A curfew was put in place there and will be prolonged for the full
day on Wednesday, according to regional governor Oleh Synehub.
"Stay at home and
pay attention to warnings!" On the Telegram message service, Synehub had
informed the locals.
Since March, Russia and Ukraine have traded new accusations of shelling in the vicinity of the Russian-owned nuclear power station in Zaporizhzhia. Ukrainian officials have pleaded with the UN and other international organisations to tell the Russian troops to leave the Zaporizhzhia plant.
It has been discussed for more than a week that the International Atomic Energy Agency will pay a visit to the site.
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