Russia plans to cut Ukrainian nuclear power plants off from grid and destroy water supply system – NYT

According to an approved Russian plan reportedly intercepted by Ukraine, Russia intends to use winter strikes to disconnect Ukrainian nuclear power plants from the energy grid by hitting targets within a kilometre of the plants, while also launching large-scale attacks on water supply systems.

Source: The New York Times, citing a Russian plan presented to Western partners by Ukrainian Energy Minister Denys Shmyhal

Details: According to the document, Russia intends to force Ukraine's three operational nuclear power plants – Rivne, Khmelnytskyi and Pivdennoukrainsk – to shut down by launching missile strikes on power substations connecting them to the power grid. These substations are located less than a kilometre from the reactors.

The plan also states that Moscow intends to target Ukraine's water supply system, including pumping stations and water treatment facilities, with dozens of ballistic missiles and glide bombs.

Background:

• Prime Minister Serhii Koretskyi previously reported that on the night of 29-30 September, Russia began launching large-scale attacks on Ukraine's energy infrastructure.
• It later emerged that the Trypillia Thermal Power Plant was among the energy facilities damaged in the Russian attack.

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