Kyiv: Ukraine's largest nuclear plant, surrounded by Russian troops, has lost all external power needed for critical security systems for the second time in five days, according to the head of the UN's nuclear watchdog, who called it a "deep worrying development".

According to Rafael Grossi, Director-General of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), the warning comes amid developments in Russia's war in Ukraine.

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Ukraine's military command announced the recapture of five settlements on the western outskirts of Russian-controlled territory in the southern Kherson region, while Russia's top domestic security agency arrested eight people over the weekend in connection with the Crimea bridge blast declare.

Grossi, who met with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Tuesday, said the agency's monitoring at Europe's largest nuclear power facility - the Zaporizhzhya Nuclear Power Plant - reported power outages, but backup diesel generators were turning on nuclear safety and security devices. were keeping.

"This repeated loss of off-site power at #ZNPP is development related, emphasizing the urgent need for a nuclear safety and security protection zone around the site," Grossi tweeted.

Ukraine's state nuclear operator Energoatom said on the Telegram social media platform that a Russian missile attack on substation "Dniprovska" in the neighboring Dnipropetrovsk region to the north damaged a vital communication line to the plant, causing the diesel generator to start automatically. Went.

Earlier on Wednesday, Ukraine's Southern Command announced that its forces had recaptured five settlements in the southern Kherson region.

According to the chairman of the Southern Command, Vladislav Nazarov, the villages of Novosilivka, Novohrihorivka, Nova Kamianka, Trifonivka and Chervon from Berislav district were withdrawn on 11 October.
The settlements are in one of the four newly annexed regions of Russia.

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On Wednesday, Russia's top domestic security agency announced the arrest of eight people suspected of being involved in a bombing of a main bridge connecting Russia and Crimea, while an official in the southern Ukrainian city of Zaporizhzhya said Russian forces had arrested them. made additional attacks.

A truck laden with explosives exploded while crossing the bridge, killing four people and collapsing two sections of one of the two automobile links.

Ukrainian officials praised the bridge blast but held back from taking direct responsibility.
According to the FSB, the KGB's main successor agency, the suspects were acting on orders from Ukraine's military intelligence to secretly transport explosives to Russia as well as forge documents.

Putin accused Ukraine's special forces of masterminding the blast, calling it a "terrorist act" and responding to orders for missile strikes on Ukraine.

According to city council secretary Anatoly Kurtaev, Russian attacks on Wednesday continued in the Zaporizhzhya region and the city of the same name, breaking windows and blown doors in residential buildings. There were no immediate reports of casualties, but Kurtaev warned residents that a second attack was possible.

In recent weeks, Zaporizhzhya, which lies close to the frontline between Russian and Ukrainian armies, has been the target of repeated deadly attacks. It is part of a larger area that Moscow claims it has occupied in violation of international law, including Europe's largest nuclear power plant. The city is still in the hands of Ukraine.

According to Mayor Ivan Fedorov, a powerful explosion struck the city of Melitopol in the south, in a Russian-controlled area of ​​the region, causing a car to fly into the air. There was no information about casualties.

The new clashes come two days after the Russian military began bombarding many parts of Ukraine with more missiles and warship-carrying drones, killing at least 19 people on Monday alone. It was described by the United Nations as "particularly shocking" and amounted to potential war crimes. Human Rights Office.

Air raid sirens sounded in Ukraine for the second day in a row on Tuesday, prompting officials to advise residents to conserve energy and stock up on water. The strikes brought power to a standstill across the country, disrupting the relative peace that had returned to the country.

It evokes anger rather than fear,” said 67-year-old Kyiv resident Volodymyr Vasilenko, as the crew worked to restore traffic lights and clear debris from the capital's streets. “We have become accustomed to it. And we will continue to fight."

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The Group of Seven Industrial Powers condemned the bombing and pledged to "stand firmly with Ukraine" as long as it is necessary. His pledge defied Russian warnings that Western aid would prolong the war and the suffering of the people in Ukraine.

During a virtual meeting, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky told G7 leaders that Russia fired more than 100 missiles and dozens of drones at Ukraine over two days. 
He called for "more modern and effective" air defence systems, despite the fact that Ukraine shot down many of his planes.

The Pentagon announced on Tuesday that the first two advanced NASAMs anti-aircraft systems will be delivered to Ukraine in the coming weeks. The systems, which Kyiv has long desired, will provide medium- to long-range missile defence.

President Joe Biden "pledged to continue providing Ukraine with the support needed to defend itself, including advanced air defence systems," the White House said in a phone call with Zelensky on Tuesday.

Ukraine's Defense Minister tweeted that four German IRIS-T air defence systems had just arrived, ushering in a "new era" of Ukrainian air defence.