Last October, Ukrainian elite forces tried to liberate the Zaporizhzhya nuclear power plant (ZNPP), which had been seized by Russian forces during an offensive last spring. Officially, kyiv does not confirm that it carried out such an operation, however, special forces, intelligence and naval personnel involved in the attack gave details to The Times. Control of the Zaporizhzhya nuclear power plant is important both strategically, since the nuclear security of the entire region depends on it, and tactically, since Russian troops entrenched in the facility bombard nearby towns and industrial enterprises that remain under control Ukrainian. One of the fighters told the Times correspondent that if the operation was successful, “he could tell his grandchildren about it.”
Ukrainian special forces relied on the fact that the Russians would not use artillery for fear of unpredictable consequences at a nuclear facility. In total, about 600 people took part in the operation, which took place late at night, all already seasoned. But, according to the Times’ interlocutors, no one expected that Russian troops would already put up such massive resistance – they began firing at Ukrainian boats when they tried to cross the Dnieper, on the southern bank of which the Zaporizhzhya nuclear power plant is located. Apparently, the Ukrainian side expected, among other things, that the attempt to defend the station would be as chaotic as the occupation itself. According to intelligence data, it is distinguished by a lack of coordination in the actions of different units.
Fire support for the Ukrainians crossing the Dnieper was provided by rockets fired from the HIMARS MLRS at targets on the southern bank (under Russian control). When asked if US intelligence had provided information on these targets, Times sources said they had provided some “sensitive” information, but declined to specify what type.
As soon as the Ukrainian boats approached the opposite bank, the Russian fire increased sharply. As a result, only a small group of special forces on small boats was able to land and impose a battle on the invaders on the outskirts of the city of Energodar, which is directly adjacent to the ZNPP. The skirmish began at dawn and lasted about three hours. The rest of the Ukrainian forces tried to use anti-tank guns, but doing so while moving at high speed through water was almost impossible.
As a result, the commander of the operation gave the order to withdraw, which, according to the participants, was able to save many lives. Now, the Times writes, even among Ukrainian officials there is no consensus on the need for such attacks. In particular, the director of the Ukrainian monopoly Energoatom believes that the Ukrainian armed forces should focus on a broad counter-offensive and not even try to carry out military operations near the nuclear power plant, because “any damage will lead to radioactive contamination of people”. and the whole world.