Ukraine war: Russia targets Zaporizhzhia region as Kyiv bans Independence Day festivities
- The State Department urged US citizens to leave Ukraine due to threats to their safety
- Ukraine said Russian troops shelled the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant, damaging transformers and temporarily cutting off a communication line
Russia carried out artillery and air strikes in the Zaporizhzhia region, Ukraine’s General Staff said on Tuesday, where fighting near Europe’s largest nuclear power plant has raised fears of a catastrophic nuclear incident.
The attacks come ahead of Ukraine’s Independence Day on Wednesday commemorating freedom from Soviet rule, with Kyiv banning public celebrations citing a threat of more attacks.
Near front lines in the south of the country, Ukraine said Russia fired artillery and conducted air strikes in several towns in the Zaporizhzhia region, were Russian forces captured the nuclear power plant soon after they invaded on February 24.
Artillery and rocket fire near the Zaporizhzhia nuclear reactor complex, on the south bank of the Dnipro River, has led to calls for the area to be demilitarised.
Ukrainians living nearby voiced fears shells could hit one of the plant’s six reactors, with disastrous consequences.
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Ukraine parades destroyed Russian tanks and guns in Kyiv ahead of Independence Day