Russia foiled Ukrainian attempt to seize nuclear plant with more than 250 soldiers

Ukrainian forces attempted to capture the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant in an attack on the facility on Friday night, Russia’s defence ministry has said in its daily briefing.

The ministry said a group of the Ukrainian navy, with more than 250 soldiers, attempted to land on the coast of a lake near the Zaporizhzhia plant in southern Ukraine at about 11pm (20:00 GMT).

Russia said its forces foiled the attack using military helicopters and fighter jets.

Two groups consisting of 42 boats and motor boats with a landing force of more than 250 people from the special operations forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine and foreign mercenaries, tried to land on the coast of the Kakhovka reservoir near Energodar and Dneprorudny.

After that, four Su-30s and two Ka-52 helicopters of the Russian Aerospace Forces attacked the Ukrainian landing force. As a result, 20 boats were destroyed. The rest of the boats and boats of the Armed Forces of Ukraine turned around and headed towards the Ukrainian sector.

 Further, the artillery of the RF Armed Forces struck, including from howitzers of high power "Malka", on the Ukrainian coast in the areas of the settlements of Vyshetarasovka and Chervonodneprovka, where the remnants of the landing force of the Armed Forces of Ukraine came ashore.

It is reported that as a result of another unsuccessful attempt to capture the station, 47 Ukrainian militants were killed, including 10 foreign mercenaries. In addition, 23 Ukrainian nationalists were injured.