Ukrainian military intelligence accused the Russian army of preparing for what it described as a major provocation at the Zaporizhia nuclear plant in the coming hours, while Russian missile attacks continue on areas in Ukraine, which are matched by the bombing of sites inside Russia’s territory.
And the intelligence of the Ukrainian Ministry of Defense said late on Friday evening that the Russian forces were planning to launch an attack in the area of the Russian-controlled Zaporizhia nuclear plant, and then announce the leakage of radioactive materials and blame Ukraine.
And she added, in a statement posted on social media, that Russia seeks to provoke the international community and push it to conduct an investigation into the matter, which requires a cease-fire and allows it to rearrange its ranks to thwart the counterattack that the Ukrainian army is preparing for.
Kiev says it is preparing to launch a major counterattack to recapture areas from Russian forces after it received several shipments of Western weapons.
The bombing of a psychiatric clinic
Meanwhile, missile and drone attacks continued between the Russian and Ukrainian sides during the past hours.
And the Ukrainian authorities announced on Friday that at least two people were killed and 30 others were wounded – including two children – in a missile attack that hit a clinic in the city of Dnipro.
And Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky published pictures showing destroyed buildings, from which columns of black smoke rose, and said, “A new Russian missile attack, a new crime against humanity.”
First Lady Olena Zelenska explained that the targeted clinic was providing psychological care services.
For his part, US Senator Lindsey Graham – who is on his third visit to Ukraine – condemned the attack, describing it as a war crime.
Shells over Belgorod
On the other hand, Russia announced, for the fifth consecutive day, that Ukrainian bombing had occurred on the Russian border province of Belgorod, in addition to bombing by drones in Krasnodar, 200 km from Crimea.
Belgorod governor Vyacheslav Gladkov said dozens of artillery shells had landed in the Russian province bordering Ukraine.
Local authorities in Belgorod have announced that they are studying legal options for arming the citizens of the province within the territorial defense units to protect the population.
As for Krasnodar – which has a population of more than one million and located in southern Russia – buildings were damaged as a result of being targeted by two drones, and no injuries were recorded.
On the other hand, the pro-Russian local authorities in Donetsk Province, eastern Ukraine, said that the Ukrainian forces targeted the vicinity of the Azovstal factory in the city of Mariupol with two long-range missiles, and the bombing did not result – according to the authorities – any damage.
The channel of the Mariupol City Council of Ukraine, on its Telegram account, posted videos of thick smoke rising from the factory, which Donetsk authorities say was targeted by Ukraine.