At the center of the front line between Russian and Ukrainian forces is Europe’s largest nuclear power plant.
The entire international community has been following the situation in Enerhodar, which has been more or less under constant attack in recent weeks.
A direct missile attack on the facility could end in disaster.
This is precisely why it is militarily smart for Russia to use it as a base. Retired NATO general Wesley Clark thinks so.
– Think of a power plant as a medieval castle. You can put your horse there and it’s undeniable. Ukraine can’t afford to shoot the power plant, because that would destroy it, adds Clark CNN.
At the very least, smart, according to him, to divert the public conversation.
– Now Russia continues to operate screening camps and they continue to commit war crimes, while we focus on this – everything is orchestrated by Russia.
DAMAGE: Satellite imagery, taken on August 29, shows damage to the roof of a building near the nuclear reactor at the Zaporizhia power plant. Photo: Maxar Technologies / AP / NTB
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Russia will achieve this
The general’s analysis is supported by Tom Røseth, principal lecturer in intelligence at the Norwegian Defense Academy.
He believed it was a well-thought-out plan from the Kremlin.
– Russia uses power plants to gain protection from military attacks, and as a pressure tool for strategic purposes, Røseth told Dagbladet.
He explained that Russia, by turning the world’s gaze on nuclear power plants, and then allowing inspectors from the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) to enter, was trying to appear responsible.
“Disgraceful”: That’s what the head of the intelligence school at FHS, Tom Røseth, thinks. Photo: Norwegian Armed Forces
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From the state side, it is also important for the war to control the country’s energy supply.
– This way they can ensure that the Ukrainians freeze this winter, and heat up their own occupied areas, said the intelligence guru.
He called the strategy “despicable”.
– This is strategically and tactically understandable, but still not an acceptable application, when you risk such disastrous consequences.
– Ukraine took a chance
Ukraine and Russia have blamed each other for repeated attacks on construction sites.
– We know that the Ukrainian positions have fired from the site at the power plant, and that the Ukrainians have fired back near the factory with precision weapons, to incapacitate Russian weapons, Røseth said.
After inspecting the power plant earlier this week, IAEA chief Rafael Grossi determined that its physical structure was badly damaged.
MILITARY EQUIPMENT: Satellite imagery, taken on August 29, shows armored vehicles near the plant’s reactor. Photo: Maxar Technologies / Reuters / NTB
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Some of the damage to the facility has been documented via satellite imagery. It is also documented that Russian troops store military materials in and near power plants.
According to the intelligence guru, this may have been moved in connection with the IAEA visit, so it’s not very clear to observers.
On Friday, a day after a large IAEA delegation inspected facilities in Russian-controlled Enerhodar, Ukraine confirmed that it had bombed the city.
– This shows that Ukraine is using the opportunity to knock out Russian weapons systems when these are available, said Røseth.
Now the hope is that UN inspectors will be able to ensure that security at the facility is maintained, despite the war. IAEA chief Rafael Grossi is concerned.
– Military activity is increasing in this part of the country, and that worries me a lot, Grossi said at a press conference in Vienna on Friday.
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