Planet Labs satellite records new objects on Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant’s roof

The Planet Labs service recorded on satellite images that new objects appeared on the roof of the fourth power unit of the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant (ZNPP).

Radio Svoboda reports that Ukraine's General Staff said earlier that the fourth unit is mined.

"Satellite images of the ZNPP show the new objects on the roof of the IV power unit, which was reported to be mined by the General Staff," Radio Svoboda reports.

It is reported that the photos were taken on July 5. The resolution of the picture does not allow us to understand what exactly appeared on the roof.

At the same time, the publication examined satellite photos from the IV power unit of the ZNPP over the past year and a half and reports that similar objects were not visible on any photo during this time.

The General Staff reported that the occupiers also mined the roof of the III power unit.

What we know about ZNPP situation

The Armed Forces of Ukraine officially warned about the possible Russian provocation on the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant territory, which Russian terrorists have occupied since March 4, 2022. Explosive-like objects were placed on the roofs of two power units. It became known that Russian mobile radiation laboratories were spotted in the temporarily occupied Enerhodar and Mariupol.

In turn, the Ministry of Health appealed to Ukrainians that in the event of an explosion at the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant (ZNPP), residents of the potential radiation accident zone should be prepared for possible evacuation.

On June 30, the Defense Intelligence of the Ministry of Defense reported that the Russian contingent was gradually leaving the territory of the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant.

Oleksii Danilov, Secretary of the National Security and Defense Council, said that Ukraine is carefully preparing for any scenario surrounding the Zaporizhzhia NPP.

At the end of June 2023, Ukraine held large-scale training of emergency services in regions closest to the Zaporizhzhia plant, namely the southern Mykolaiv and Kherson regions, southeastern Zaporizhzhia region, and central Dnipropetrovsk region, to prepare rescuers to deal with the consequences of a possible terrorist attack at the ZNPP.

On July 5, the International Atomic Energy Agency asked the Russian military for additional access to the roofs of the ZNPP reactors to confirm the absence of mines or explosives.