Live Blog | Russia and Ukraine argue at the UN over the destruction of the dam Related articles

Ukrainian President Zelensky says he has received “a serious and strong offer” from the leaders of countries willing to supply Kiev with F-16 fighter jets. He awaits definitive agreements with key allies.

“Our partners know how many planes we need,” Zelensky said in a statement on his website. ‘I already figured out the number of some of our European partners (…). It is a serious and powerful offer. Kiev is now awaiting a final deal with its allies, including “a joint deal with the United States,” Zelenskiy said.

Russia and Ukraine again blamed each other for the destruction of the Kakhovka dam at a special session of the UN Security Council. The Security Council met on Tuesday night at Russia’s request to discuss the issue. The council heard the various parties without reaching a conclusion.

Russia’s Permanent Representative to the Security Council Vasily Nebenzha has said Ukraine may have blown up the dam to punish residents of Russia’s annexed Crimea peninsula, Russia’s state news agency TASS reported. . Crimea depends for its water supply on a canal running from the reservoir to the peninsula. That canal is now in danger of drying up.

Nebenzha also suggested, according to the news agency, that Ukraine’s real goal was to “carry out a provocation against the Zaporizhia nuclear power plant”. That nuclear power plant, which Russia captured early in the war, depends on the tank for its cooling water.

The destroyed dam in Ukraine poses no short-term safety risk for the Zaporizhia nuclear power plant, says the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). The nuclear plant draws cooling water from the reservoir behind the dam but still has backup options to operate safely, according to director general Rafael Grossi.

The water level in the tank has not yet dropped to such an extent that it is no longer possible to draw water for the nuclear power plant. It is unclear when that point will be reached. According to the IAEA, it could be a matter of days. The organization confirms that the cooling water tank is completely full, after Ukraine previously said so. There is enough water for several months.

Furthermore, according to the UN watchdog, the water system of the nearby city of Enerhodar and mobile pumps can be used, for example. Firefighters could also bring water. The IAEA says it has been informed by the nuclear power plant of the introduction of measures to limit the use of water. Water would only be used when needed for safety reasons, for example to cool reactors.

This live blog is based on reports from our correspondents and editors BNR, The Guardian, ANP, Al Jazeera, Reuters, Associated Press, CNN, BBC, CNBC and Agence France-Presse. BNR also uses online reports from news agencies Tass and RIA Novosti (Russia) and Belta (Belarus). Since the reporting of these agencies is not verifiable and cannot be qualified as independent, in these cases the origin of the report is explicitly stated.