Chinese Satellites and Threats to Ukraine’s Nuclear Facilities.

Zelenskyy mentioned that russia is using Chinese satellites to take detailed photographs of nuclear facilities in Ukraine. Based on past experiences, when such images are taken, it signals the threat of attacks on those facilities. He added that Ukraine will share this information with global leaders who could influence russia, emphasizing that this situation constitutes "nuclear terrorism".
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China’s Involvement.

So far, the Chinese Embassy in Washington has not provided an official response. If this is proven, it will be another example of russia relying on China's support during the war and questions the power of russian satellite capabilities.

After the invasion in 2022, russia needs economic and military support from China. Although China refrains from supplying russia with weapons, there is growing concern about the extent of its support. Recently, U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Kurt Campbell indicated that China has begun providing military components to russia to enhance its military capabilities.
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Planned Attacks on Ukraine’s Nuclear Infrastructure.

Zelenskyy's statements came after a similar warning from Ukraine’s foreign minister, who revealed that the Kremlin is planning attacks on Ukraine’s key nuclear energy infrastructure before winter. These strikes are anticipated to focus on substations and vital energy systems connected to nuclear plants, which could lead to a nuclear incident with potentially global repercussions. Ukrainian intelligence has already informed its international partners of this situation, and the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has been notified as well.

Prior to the large-scale invasion, Ukraine had four functioning nuclear power plants. While the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant remains under russian occupation, the other three plants are still supplying electricity to the country.

Experts believe that while a direct attack on nuclear reactors is unlikely, the frequent targeting of transformer substations linked to these plants presents a severe risk. According to a report by the British think tank Royal United Services Institute (RUSI), russian strikes on these substations could disrupt the plants' connection to external power supplies, jeopardizing reactor safety and leading to emergency shutdowns.

russia's broader campaign against Ukraine's energy infrastructure has caused significant damage, raising concerns about the approaching winter. Ukrainian and Western officials estimate that russian strikes have reduced the country’s power generation capacity by over half.

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Russia’s Broader Energy Offensive.

Before the invasion, Ukraine’s power generation capacity was between 25 and 32 gigawatts (GW). Currently, the country struggles to produce around 9 GW, and authorities have implemented rolling blackouts to conserve the grid. Many Ukrainians are already experiencing long periods without electricity.

As the situation escalates, the international community must remain vigilant. If Zelenskyy’s claims about russian plans to target Ukraine’s nuclear facilities prove accurate, the consequences could be dire, necessitating urgent diplomatic efforts to prevent a catastrophic incident.

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‍_{Author: Nessa, Cyber Journalist}

_{Source: https://abcnews.go.com}

_{Photo: Getty Images}

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