Ukraine updates: Nuclear plant rocked by ‘explosions’

The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) said “powerful explosions” rocked the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant in Ukraine overnight and Sunday morning.

The UN nuclear watchdog said some buildings, equipment, and systems at the plant, which is under Russian control, have been damaged but there has been nothing critical to nuclear safety and security.

“Whoever is behind this, it must stop immediately,” IAEA chief Rafael Grossi said on Twitter. “You’re playing with fire,” he added.

Grossi told French broadcaster BFMTV that the “targeted” strikes at Zaporizhzhia created a “very serious” situation.

He again appealed to Russia and Ukraine to agree to set up a “safety zone” around the plant.

It would require Moscow and Kyiv to stop military action in and around the plant.

Russia’s Defense Ministry on Sunday accused Kyiv of shelling the territory around Zaporizhzhia.

It said Ukraine “does not stop its provocations aiming at creating the threat of a man-made catastrophe at the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant.”

In turn, Ukraine’s nuclear energy firm Energoatom blamed the Russian military for the shelling.

The Zaporizhzhia plant, which Russia occupied shortly after its invasion of Ukraine, has since come under repeated shelling, with both Kyiv and Moscow accusing each other of attacks and risking a nuclear accident.

The facility, the largest nuclear power plant in Europe, provided about a fifth of Ukraine’s electricity before Russia’s Feb. 24 invasion, and has been forced to operate on back-up generators a number of times.Explosions rock Zaporizhzhia nuclear plantTo view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video

Here are the other main headlines from the war in Ukraine on Sunday, November 20:

Ukraine’s Attorney General: at least 8,300 civilians killed

Andriy Kostin, the Attorney General of Ukraine, said at least 8,300 civilians had been killed and more than 11,000 injured during the nine month-long war following Russia’s invasion on February 24.

Kostin said the actual number of victims is likely to be much greater because Ukrainian authorities have not yet been able to access areas formerly occupied by Russian forces.

Ukrainian authorities continue to find bodies of civilians and evidence of atrocities, notably in areas recently retaken by Ukrainian forces, Kostin said.

Ukraine refutes Russian accusation of POWs’ execution

Dmytro Lubinets, Ukraine’s ombudsman for human rights, denied Moscow’s accusations that Ukraine had executed prisoners of war. Earlier in the week, videos circulated on Russian social networks purporting to show the bodies of Russian forces after surrendering to Ukraine.

Lubinets said “excerpts” of a video showed Russian forces “using a staged capture” who “committed a war crime by opening fire on the Ukrainian Armed Forces.” His conclusion was that the deceased, said to be Russian forces, “cannot be considered prisoners of war.”

“Those who want to use the protection of international law to kill must be punished,” Lubinets said.

The videos, which circulated widely on Russian social media, have not been independently verified though the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said, “the merciless shooting of unarmed Russian,” is a “shocking crime” that should be investigated by international organizations and condemned by the international community.

Russia’s Investigative Committee opened a criminal case into the “execution of captured Russian servicemen” last week.

Poland holds funeral for second missile victim

Both men who were killed by a missile that hit a Polish village near the Ukrainian border have been laid to rest.

The first victim, a 62-year-old warehouse manager, was buried on Saturday. The Polish military also took part in the funeral procession.

On Sunday, a funeral was held for the second victim. The family of the 59-year-old tractor driver had asked that the ceremony be held without the participation of Poland’s military.

Two Polish men were killed after a missile exploded on Tuesday in the village of PrzewodowImage: UGC via REUTERS

The two men were killed on Tuesday when a missile hit the village of Przewodow, located 6 kilometers (4 miles) from the Ukrainian border.

Western officials have said the missile explosion was likely caused by a Ukrainian air defense missile that went astray during a barrage of attacks from Russia on Tuesday.

Poland, the United States and NATO leaders say they believe Russia is ultimately to blame for the deaths, as the incident would not have occurred if Kyiv wasn’t forced to defend itself from Russian attacks.

Poland has launched an investigation into the source and circumstances of the missile, along with support from Ukrainian and US investigators.

Germany to provide Poland with Patriot missile defense systems

German Defense Minister Christine Lambrecht offered to provide Poland with US-made Patriot missile defense systems following an incident last Tuesday that saw the death of two Polish nationals in a town bordering Ukraine.

The US and NATO attributed that accident to a Ukrainian air defense missile sent to intercept an incoming Russian missile.

Estonia to send power generators to Ukraine

The Estonian government will send 27 municipal buses to Ukraine, officials announced late on Saturday.

“To help Ukrainian society function as humanely as possible in parallel with the war, Ukraine must be supported not only militarily and politically, but also with humanitarian aid,” said Foreign Minister Urmas Reinsalu.

Private donors in the Baltic nation have also raised funds to buy 13 power generators for Ukraine, which is experiencing wide-ranging blackouts due to Russian strikes on critical infrastructure. The power generators will be supplied by the Estonian branch of the Lion’s Club.

The generators will specifically be sent to schools and children’s groups working in emergency shelters, Estonian media reported.

Kherson residents flock to Ukrainian supermarket reopening after occupation

Residents of the previously Russian-occupied city of Kherson flocked to the first Ukrainian supermarket to reopen following the liberation of the city after months of Russian occupation.

Russian-backed occupation administrators had brought with them Russian products and introduced the Russian ruble as the de facto currency under occupation.

Nataliia Tsvihun, a resident of Kherson standing in line outside the ATB supermarket told Reuters, “Out of principle, I didn’t carry any rubles and never bought Russian goods.”

“I want to buy something tasty,” she said.