Zelenskyy warns Russia that Ukraine’s counterattack will ‘push them to the border’ – as nuclear inspectors finally reach Zaporizhzhia power plant | World News

President Zelenskyy has warned Russia that his troops will “push them to the border” after Ukraine launched a counteroffensive to retake territory in the south.

“We will push them to the border. For our border, the boundary does not change. The invaders know that well.” President Zelenskyy in his nightly address.

A senior adviser to the President said that Ukrainian troops have penetrated Russian defenses on the front lines in several areas near the city of Kherson.

Oleksiy Arestovych said the defense was breached in just “a few hours”.

Kherson area, north of the annexed Crimea, was occupied by Russia since the early days of the war.

“If they want to survive, it’s time for the Russian army to flee,” the Ukrainian president said.

However, the Russian Defense Ministry said the attack around Kherson and the nearby Mykolaiv area “failed miserably” with many casualties, RIA news agency reported.

Artillery on Mykolaiv, that Ukraine yes managed to cling to the warkilled at least two people and injured about 24 others on Monday, according to city officials and witnesses.

A woman died when her home, next to a school, was hit by bullets and she was buried under the rubble.

Nuclear experts head to endangered power plant

Farther east, fears of a potential accident at the Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant persisted, but an international safety group finally stepped in after days of negotiations.

The International Atomic Energy Agency said staff would assess damage to the facility, the largest nuclear power plant in Europe, as well as inspect safety and security systems and working conditions. the work of Ukrainian employees.

People who lived near the plant were given iodine tablets to reduce the amount of radiation their bodies absorbed if there was a leak.

Both sides blame each other for malicious attacks around the Russian-controlled station, which was briefly knocked off the grid last week.

The Russian Defense Ministry claimed to have shot down a Ukrainian drone that was trying to attack the reactor complex on Monday, and other officials said a Ukrainian missile hit a fuel depot. .

Satellite images from US company Maxar Technologies show damaged roofs at the factory and fires breaking out nearby.

The White House said Russia should agree to international calls for the demilitarization of the surrounding area.

“We continue to believe that a controlled shutdown of the Zaporizhzhia nuclear reactors will be the safest and least risky option for the time being,” said National Security Council spokesman John Kirby. next.

The Kremlin has so far given no indication that it will agree to such demands.