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Drone Strike Causes Brief Fire at Russia’s Kursk Nuclear Power Plant, Reducing Reactor Output to 50%
The US has reportedly been blocking Ukraine from launching long-range missiles into Russian territory for months. This restriction follows a Pentagon review mechanism introduced in late spring, limiting Ukraine's operational capabilities. The policy prevents Ukraine from using US-made Army Tactical Missile Systems (Atacms) or British-produced Storm Shadows without US targeting data.
Ukrainian President Zelensky responded to the reports, stating that Ukraine has been using its own weapons for recent strikes without consulting Washington. Meanwhile, a Ukrainian drone strike on Russia's Kursk Nuclear Power Plant caused a brief fire, damaging an auxiliary transformer and reducing one reactor's output to 50%. No injuries were reported, and radiation levels remained normal.
US President Donald Trump has given Moscow a two-week deadline to agree to peace talks with Ukraine. If no progress is made, further action will be taken. In a recent exchange, 146 prisoners of war were returned to Ukraine, including Ukrainian journalist Dmytro Khyliuk, who had been abducted in March 2022.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov stated that Russia has no interest in territories and emphasized concern for the people living in those areas. President Putin has previously insisted that any peace deal with Ukraine involves Ukraine ceding the eastern Donbas region to Russia.
In another incident, a fire at Russia's Novoshakhtinsk refinery continued for the fourth day after a Ukrainian drone strike. The acting governor of the region reported that the fire area had been reduced, with extensive firefighting efforts involving 412 people and 150 pieces of equipment.
The swap of 146 prisoners of war between Russia and Ukraine is a common practice, with numerous exchanges having taken place since the conflict began. The two countries agreed to their largest swap in May this year, committing to return 1,000 prisoners each. Ukraine's Defence Minister Denys Shmyhal joined President Zelensky and Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney in Kyiv for Independence Day celebrations.
Ukraine announced that its forces struck the Russian Syzran oil refinery, located in the Samara Oblast region. The refinery produces various petroleum products, including motor fuels, jet fuel, and bitumen. Russia and Ukraine conducted a recent swap of 146 prisoners of war each, facilitated by the United Arab Emirates.