6:13 PM PST: Ukrainian Intelligence claims that Russian Forces and Occupation Officials have begun to Evacuate the Cities of Enerhodar and Melitopol and several other Settlements in the Zaporizhzhia Region near the Nuclear Power Plant.

4:19 PM PST: Russian military blogger Boris Rozhin: “At night, there is a high probability of an attack on the Zaporizhzhya Nuclear Power Plant. Possible scenarios are an ballistic missile, a gliding bomb or a cruise missile”

2:12 PM PST: Zelensky has released a video statement. Claims the Russian military has “placed objects resembling explosives on the roof of several power units of the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant.”

2:08 PM PST: Governor of Mykolaiv oblast talking about the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant: “I will sleep, everyone is ready if anything happends.. But they [Russian troops] do not withdraw, so nothing will happen. Good night”

1:29 PM PST: Ukrainian President Zelensky has told French President Macron that Russia is planning a ‘dangerous provocations’ at the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant.

1:03 PM PST: Russia says Ukraine will attempt to attack the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant using ammunition with “radioactive waste.”

12:33 PM PST: Ukrainian military says “objects resembling explosive devices” were placed on the outer roofs of the third and fourth power units of the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant.

12:21 PM PST: Ukrainian-affiliated telegram accounts claim that Russian troops are pulling out from Enerhodar (near the plant) and surrounding areas.

Russia and Ukraine are now accusing each other of planning an imminent attack at Ukraine’s Russian-controlled Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant.

Since the start of the war, both Russia and Ukraine have accused each other of planning to destroy the facility. Here’s what both sides have been saying in the last 12 hours:

Ukraine:
The Ukrainian military has warned of a “provocation on the territory of the Zaporizhzhia power plant in the near future. External objects similar to explosive devices were placed on the outer roof of the third and fourth reactors. Their detonation should not damage power units but may create a picture of shelling from the Ukrainian side.”

Russia:
Renat Karchaa, an advisor to Russia’s Rosatom nuclear agency, said, “Today, we got information that I am authorized to announce… On July 5, literally at night, in the dark, the Ukrainian army will try to attack the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant.” Karchaa adds that the Ukrainian military is planning to use “high-precision, long-range weapons” and “kamikaze drones.”

This all comes as Ukraine’s Ministry of Health has just released a post on what to do in case of an explosion at the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant (see slide 2 of flyer). In a post, the ministry said, “If you are in the zone of a radiation accident, you can leave the buildings only after the relevant instructions from authorities. Local authorities will inform you of evacuation points as well as the safest travel routes if you are evacuating in your own car.”

In addition, Ukrainian authorities have been carrying out nuclear disaster response exercises (see post from 4 days ago).