Russia aims to capture another nuclear power plant in Ukraine

New Delhi: Russian forces are aiming to capture another nuclear plant in Ukraine after the Zaporizhzhya nuclear power plant was seized last week, a top official in Kiev said on Sunday.

According to Aleksey Arestovich, adviser to the head of the Office of the Ukrainian President, the Russian forces are trying to "advance north of Nikolaev and are trying to turn around in the direction of the south Ukrainian nuclear power plant in order to attempt to capture it, like the Zaporizhzhya nuclear power plant."

At the same time, Arestovich noted that the Zaporizhzhya plant is operating normally, and "there are few enemies there". He also opined that "it will not be easy for the enemy to pass north of Nikolaev... but the efforts of the invaders are directed there".

Since Russia's invasion began on February 24, Moscow has lost more than 11,000 personnel, the Ukrainian Defence Ministry said. In addition to the personnel, Russia has also lost 285 tanks, 985 armoured combat vehicles, 109 artillery systems, 50 MLRS, 21 air defence systems, 44 aircraft, 48 helicopters, 447 vehicles, two light speedboats, 60 tanks with fuel and lubricants, four drones operationally - tactical level, the ministry said.

"The data is being specified. The calculation is complicated by the high intensity of hostilities," it added.