“I am deeply concerned about the situation at the factory.” Experts from the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) have “heard shelling almost every day this week”near the Zaporizhia nuclear power plant, the director of the instance reported in a press release (link in English) posted Friday, April 21. Rafael Grossi expressed concern about “serious nuclear safety and security risks facing Europe’s largest power plant (…), as speculation grows of impending offensives and counter-offensives in southern Ukraine”. The Zaporijjia plant has been occupied for more than a year by the Russian army. Follow our live.
The head of NATO “confident” that Ukraine can regain ground. Meeting on Friday at the American base in Ramstein (Germany), kyiv’s allies passed “reviewing the various capabilities, systems and supplies the Ukrainians need to regain more ground”explained the Secretary General of NATO. “I am confident that [les Ukrainiens] will now be able to free up even more ground”assured Jens Stoltenberg.
Russia castigates statements “dangerous” of NATO. Moscow once again criticized on Friday the prospect of Ukraine joining the Atlantic Alliance, mentioned the day before by Jens Stoltenberg. “Such statements are short-sighted and downright dangerous. It can lead to the final collapse of the European security system”said a spokeswoman for the Russian Ministry of Defense.
A “common repair center” will be created in Poland. The Ukrainian, Polish and German representatives have agreed in Ramstein to set up this shared site for the maintenance of Leopard 2 tanks, announced the German Minister of Defense, Boris Pistorius. He said the West has provided over $150 billion in aid to Ukraine since the start of the Russian invasion, including $65 billion in military aid.