Putin: Ukraine counter-offensive won't change Russia's plans
September 19, 2022, 3:26 pm

Putin: Ukraine counter-offensive won't change Russia's plans

Vladimir Putin

Ukraine's recent counter-offensive will not change Russia's plans. This statement is considered Vladimir Putin’s first public comments on the matter.

In Friday's comments, Mr Putin threatened a "more serious" response if Ukrainian attacks continue.

He also noted that Russia had so far not deployed its full forces.

"I remind you that the Russian army isn't fighting in its entirety... Only the professional army is fighting."

Mr Putin said he was not in a hurry, and the offensive in Ukraine's Donbas region remains on track.

"Our offensive operation in the Donbas is not stopping. They're moving forward - not at a very fast pace - but they are gradually taking more and more territory," he said after a summit in Uzbekistan.

In a rapid counter-attack, Ukrainian forces say they captured over 8,000 sq km (3,000 sq miles) in six days in the north-eastern Kharkiv region.

Destroyed college building in occupied Kadiivka that was used by Russians as a military base for at least three months - Euromaidan Press/Photo. via Twitter/@hochu_dodomu

The industrial Donbas region in east Ukraine is the focus of Russia's invasion, which Mr Putin falsely claims is necessary to save Russian-speakers from genocide.

Early on Monday (Sep 19), Russian troops struck the Pivdennoukrainsk nuclear power plant in Ukraine's southern Mykolaiv region, but its reactors have not been damaged and are working normally, Ukraine's state nuclear company Energoatom said.

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A blast took place 300 metres (yards) away from the reactors and damaged power plant buildings shortly after midnight, Energoatom said in a statement. The attack has also damaged a nearby hydroelectric power plant and transmission lines.

"Currently, all three power units of the PNPP (Pivdennoukrainsk Nuclear Power Plant) are operating normally. Fortunately, there were no casualties among the station staff," Energoatom said.

Commenting on the strike on the Telegram messaging app, Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said: "The invaders wanted to shoot again, but they forgot what a nuclear power plant is. Russia endangers the whole world. We have to stop it before it's too late."

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Another Ukrainian nuclear power plant at Zaporizhzhia - which is Europe's largest and lies about 250 km (155 miles) east of the Mykolaiv site - was shut down earlier this month due to Russian shelling, prompting concerns about a possible nuclear disaster.

Russia and Ukraine have blamed each other for shelling at the Zaporizhzhia plant, which is held by Russian forces but operated by Ukrainian staff. The shelling has damaged buildings and disrupted power lines.

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