In a decree signed by Vladimir Putin on Wednesday October 5, Russia formally appropriated the Zaporijjia nuclear power plant. The same day, Rafael Grossi, the head of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), reported that he was on his way to the plant to discuss the establishment of a protection zone around the premises. . Franceinfo takes stock of the day’s news on the frontline of the war in Ukraine.
Russia takes ownership of Zaporizhia nuclear power plant
Russia has formally appropriated the Zaporijjia nuclear power plant in southern Ukraine, which it has been militarily occupying for months, according to a decree signed by its President Vladimir Putin on Wednesday. “The government will have to ensure that the nuclear facilities at the plant… are accepted as federal property,” can we read in the decree, published even as a visit to Ukraine and Russia by the head of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), Rafael Grossi, is looming.
The Ukrainian operator Energoatom has for its part said to consider the decree of Vladimir Putin “null and void, absurd and inappropriate”. “The Zaporizhia power plant will continue to operate in Ukraine, in accordance with Ukrainian legislation, in the Ukrainian energy system, in Energoatom”added the company on Telegram.
IAEA chief en route to Kyiv to discuss Zaporizhia power plant
The head of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) announced Wednesday his departure for kyiv to discuss the establishment of a protection zone around the Ukrainian nuclear power plant in Zaporizhia.
“On the way to kyiv for important meetings. The need for a protection zone around the plant is more urgent than ever”tweeted Rafael Grossi, while Russia has formally appropriated the site according to a decree signed by its President Vladimir Putin.
Ukraine continues its counter-offensive
Ukraine has claimed advances in the Luhansk region in the east, so far almost entirely controlled by the Russians. “Now it’s official. The disoccupation of the Luhansk region has begun. Several localities have already been liberated from the Russian army”, said the Ukrainian governor of the region, Sergiï Gaïdaï, on Wednesday.
The day before, Ukraine had already claimed advances in the north of the southern region of Kherson, while almost all of the Kharkiv region (northeast) now appears to be under Ukrainian control, paving the way towards that of Lugansk , bastion of separatists installed by Moscow since 2014.
EU member states agree on new sanctions against Moscow
The agreement was concluded at the level of the ambassadors of the Twenty-Seven. The names and entities targeted by these new sanctions are to be published in the EU’s Official Journal on Thursday, diplomats said. The sanctions notably penalize imports from Russia of strategic products and cap Russian oil prices.
“We have just reached a political agreement on new sanctions against Russia, a strong EU response to Putin’s illegal annexation of territories”, said Czech Ambassador Edita Hrda. This is the 8th package of sanctions from the European bloc since the Russian invasion of Ukraine on February 24. On Sunday, in a telephone exchange with his Ukrainian counterpart Volodymyr Zelensky, French President Emmanuel Macron pledged to work with his EU partners on this new set of sanctions.
Vladimir Putin finalizes annexation of four Ukrainian regions after referendums
The Russian president signed, on Wednesday, the law of annexation of four occupied Ukrainian regions and the decrees formally appointing at their head the leaders that Moscow had already put in place. The texts signed by the Russian leader stipulate that Donetsk, Luhansk, Kherson and Zaporizhia regions are accepted “within the Russian Federation in accordance with the Constitution of the Russian Federation”.
Ship loaded with 1,000 tonnes of French aid arrives in Romania
A ship that left Marseilles at the end of September with more than 1,000 tonnes of aid for Ukraine on board docked on Wednesday at the Romanian port of Constanta (Romania), in the Black Sea. After more than 30 humanitarian road and air convoys organized by France, this humanitarian shipment is the largest sent since the start of the Russian invasion. And it is the first partially dedicated to the reconstruction and development of emergency infrastructure.
The boat contains civil security equipment including fifteen fire and rescue vehicles, eight watercraft, rescue and clearing equipment, bridges in spare parts and five generators. It is also carrying demining equipment, 25 tons of medical equipment and 60,000 food rations, according to the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs.