Ukraine Warns Russia Will Stage Terrorist Attacks While Retreating

A Ukrainian general has warned that Russian forces might stage terrorist attacks as they retreat from their previous strongholds in Ukraine.

Russian President Vladimir Putin's draft added hundreds of thousands of soldiers to Russia's ranks, but the Kremlin is still losing critical ground in Ukraine. Russia recently lost territory in Kherson that it seized at the beginning of the war, and Wednesday, Ukrainian forces fended off attacks in Donetsk and other regions. Ukraine's strong counteroffensive attack continues to weaken and ward off Russian forces.

Newsweek reported that Russians have targeted key Ukrainian infrastructure since the start of the war, such as hospitals and other non-war-related buildings in its attacks. Mass graves have been found to include the bodies of "whole families," according to Ukraine's National Police.

Now, a Ukrainian general is concerned Russian forces will stage a terrorist attack against Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant (ZNPP) as they retreat. ZNPP is the largest nuclear power plant in Europe and responsible for much of the energy throughout the country.

"General Staff: Russians may stage terrorist attacks on occupied territories when retreating," The Kyiv Independent tweeted Thursday morning. "During their retreat, Russian troops are likely to blow up residential buildings and cause a man-made disaster at the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant, the General Staff reported."

In a second tweet, The Kyiv Independent quoted Ukraine General Staff Deputy Chief Oleksii Hromov.

"This will turn the temporarily occupied territories into 'scorched earth' and cause critical damage to the infrastructure," Hromov said.

It isn't the first time Russian forces have endangered ZNPP. Russian troops seized ZNPP in March, and the nuclear power plant was repeatedly shelled this summer. Newsweek reported that Ukraine and Russia blamed each other for the attacks, accusing the other side of engaging in nuclear blackmail.

A terrorist attack against ZNPP could have widespread consequences, but Michael Kimmage, professor and chair of the Catholic University of America's history department, told Newsweek he doesn't think a targeted attack is likely, although "anything is possible."

"[ZNPP] is quite close to a lot of territory still held by Russia," Kimmage said. "There have been concerns about an accident with the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant since the beginning of the war, but I think for the Russians to stage such an attack is improbable."

Kimmage said Russians targeting residential buildings and other infrastructure is more likely.

"That's already on the agenda so you could see upticks in that sort of stuff in the places Russians are leaving," Kimmage said.