Nationalists carried out provocation on Chernobyl NPP power lines — Defense Ministry - TASS

Ukrainian nationalists carried out a provocation by striking power grid objects that provide energy to the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant, Russian Deputy Minister of Defense Nikolay Pankov said Wednesday, adding that Russian specialists promptly switched to reserve diesel generators.

"With great regret I have to note that Ukrainian nationalists resorted to yet another provocation, an extremely dangerous one. They hit a substation and power lines that power the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant. Russian specialists took prompt measures to switch to reserve diesel generators," Pankov said.

"Currently, the Ukrainian side avoids organizing any repairs. In our opinion, this once again confirms the totally deliberate and provocative nature of actions of the nationalists," Pankov added.

Meanwhile, Russian Deputy Minister of Energy Pavel Sorokin stated that "it is very important that the issue of permanent power supply from the Belarusian power grid has been promptly worked out with the Belarusian side".