The armed forces of Ukraine have opened artillery fire against the small village where Inspectors from the International Atomic Energy Agency are trying to reach the Zaporozyhe Nuclear Power Plant! The artillery fire is being aimed in such a way as to prevent those Inspectors from arriving at the plant.
Developing fast . . . check back within minutes for updates.
MORE 8:39 AM EDT --
This directly from the war front: "A Ukrainian Commando landing took place in the Energodar region to prevent the IAEA from visiting the Zaporozhye NPP. (Russian) Aviation is working on them now. At the moment, the Armed Forces of Ukraine are immobilized in the area of the Dacha village."
UPDATE 8:50 AM EDT --
The staff of the IAEA mission cannot get to Energodar, because the Armed Forces of Ukraine are shelling the entrances to the city.
VIDEO
The video below is direct from the war front and shows Ukraine shelling the entrances to the city so as to prevent the IAEA Inspectors from reaching the nuclear power plant:
UKRAINE COMMANDOS TRIED TO SEIZE NUCLEAR POWER PLANT!
Direct from Russian Army Source:
“Today, at about 06:00 Moscow time, Ukrainian troops in two sabotage groups of up to 60 people in seven boats landed on the coast of the Kakhovka reservoir, three kilometers northeast of the Zaporozhye nuclear power plant and attempted to seize the power plant.
On the map below, the purplish line shows the location of the nuclear power plant. The blue line shows the route taken by Ukraine forces which came in via boat and landed a short distance from the nuclear power plant:
Measures were taken by Russian forces to destroy the enemy, including with the use of army aviation.
MORE: reinforcements didn’t make it….
“There was another Ukrainian landing force to attack the Zaporozhye NPP, but it was sunk on the approach, according to the Russian Defense Ministry.
"At about 7 a.m., the Russian military stopped an attempt to land at Vodiane a few kilometers from the Zaporozhye NPP by Ukrainian troops on two self-propelled barges that left Nikopol, both sunk."
In addition, from 8.00 Moscow time, the Armed Forces of Ukraine have been shelling the meeting point of the IAEA mission in the area of the settlement of Vasilyevka and the Zaporozhye NPP."
UPDATE 9:12 AM EDT --
An Intel source is now reporting to me that three Ukrainian military survivors have been captured. Two are in serious condition, out of well more than 100 men attacking.
(HT REMARK: Sounds like a slaughter….)
UPDATE 9:29 AM EDT --
Forty-Seven (47) Ukrainian fighters have been killed, three (3) have been taken prisoner. Two are in serious condition between life and death.
A group of 12 other Ukrainian fighters is blocked on three sides and cut off from the water and boats. They will be either captured or killed by the Russian Army within the hour.
IAEA INSPECTORS MADE IT THROUGH!
The Inspection team from the IAEA has made it through the Ukrainian shelling and has now arrived at the Zaporozyhe Nuclear Power Plant. Video of the arrival below:
Fighting is still continuing, but the Russian Army is defeating the attackers.
