09.10.2023, Kiev.
Ukrainian special forces made three attempts to seize the Zaporozhye nuclear power plant. The head of Ukraine’s main intelligence directorate (GUR) Kirill Budanov said this in an interview with the Ukrainian news platform NV on 9 October.
The first attempt, according to him, was made in August last year.
“In August 2022, GUR special forces carried out an operation crossing the Kakhovka reservoir, which was still full of water at the time, in the area of Energodar by boat,” Budanov said.
The publication also quotes the commander of the recon unit with the call sign Shaman about the course of this attempt. The purpose of the Ukrainian landing on the left bank of the Dnepr was to create a bridgehead for the attack and capture of Energodar and the Zaporozhye nuclear power plant. Several dozen Ukrainian fighters participated in the operation. However, they were unable to gain a foothold and were forced to retreat under pressure from Russian troops.
In addition, the publication quoted Budanov as saying that there were two more similar attempts to land Ukrainian troops near the Zaporozhye nuclear power plant.
Moreover, during the third attempt, which involved several hundred fighters, the operation also involved military personnel from New Zealand.
However, the Russian Armed Forces successfully repelled the attack with the help of heavy equipment and forced the enemy to retreat.
Budanov noted that Ukrainian success in all three cases “was hampered by both organizational and performance shortcomings.”
Source: Rossa Primavera News Agency
